STUDIES IN THE HOLY BIBLE

Commentary on the Book of

GENESIS

By: Fr. TADROS Y. MALATY

ST. MARK COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH427 WEST SIDE AVE.

P.O. BOX 4397JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07304

__________________________________© 1998

Available via http://www.saintmark.comE-mail: webmaster@saintmark.com

Table of Contents

1. The Holy Bible: The Word of God2. A Comparison of the Two Testaments3. The Five Books of Moses4. Moses the Prophet and his Five Books5. Introduction to Genesis6. Genesis 1-11: Primeval History7. Genesis 12-50: The First Patriarchs8. The Travels of Abraham and Important Events9. Questions for Personal and Group Studies

Chapter 1THE HOLY BIBLE:

THE WORD OF GOD

THE WORD OF GOD AND HUMAN LIFE

+ The word of man expresses his thoughts and his ownself. It is tied to his human existence, but is separatedfrom his substance. In contrast, the Word of God isviewed by most religions as being eternal andinseparable from God, that is, it is not a supplementalmatter ... there was never a time when God was withoutHis Word.

Our belief is that God's Word is the Living God; He is notlike man who articulates sounds and human letters.

+ Because of His love for man and his value for humanlife, God spoke to us through the centuries in our ownhuman language; His Holy Spirit filled the prophets withspecific words to guide us to truth, save us from wrong,and to record His Living Word with human culture so thatIt may be understood. Differences in writing style assureus of God's sanctity and of His appreciation for humanculture, which He didn't scorn but used to express HisEternal Word.

ITS PURPOSE

1 - God desires that we encounter Him in mutual love: tosee Him, to hear Him, to talk with Him and to embraceHim, accepting His glory in us. His Word is not a

monologue, that is, a one way conversation from Goddirected towards us, but a dialogue of love between Godand man, and man and God. This is what the dialoguebetween Abram and God clearly shows us (Genesis18:17-33).

2 - The Holy Scriptures are not just commandments, butdivine promises that empower us. The Bible is not only forus to study, but to experience, to live, and to worship byIt. Thus the Holy Scripture came down to us in a style thatthe illiterate could understand and the literate couldadmire. It does not cover scientific facts, yet It does notcontradict them. The purpose of the Bible is to invite maninto a complete life in God (2 Tim 3:16).

3 - In essence, the Bible acquaints us with the person ofthe Lord Christ as the Word in flesh with Whom we uniteas a body with a head, and a bride with the HeavenlyGroom Who carries us into the arms of the Father. Boththe New and Old Testaments concentrate on the LordChrist who saves us from our human nature, andsanctifies and renews us with His Holy Spirit and by HisBlood on the cross.

ITS ATTRIBUTES

1 - The Bible is a book unique in kind: it includes history,poetry, literature, wisdom, prophecy and messages -written by prophets, philosophers, wise men, kings,shepherds, and fishermen in different eras that span 16centuries, and yet is homogenous in thought and purpose- capable of translation into the all world's languageswithout losing its vitality. It was written by over 35 peopleinspired by the Holy Spirit.

2 - The greatness of the Holy Bible is glorified by the

fulfillment of its prophecies after thousands of years withdistinct accuracy and without doubt. It is possible to find acomplete description of the Lord Christ, His life, and Hisdivine work from the Old Testament alone.

3 - Creation is described simply but in detail, not in theform of the fairy tales that, without exception, had filledthe world; even modern scientific discoveries have cometo agree with what is contained in the Bible.

4 - Every year archeological discoveries verify thehistorical events found in the Bible even those that hadbeen doubted by some researchers.

Principles of Interpretation:

1 - Literal or simple historical explanations.

2 - Behavioral or moral interpretations

3 - Spiritual or symbolic explanations, for example findingthe person of the Lord Christ and His Mysteries behindthe text (Old Testament) and meeting Him.

THE CHURCH'S BOOK:

The Holy Bible is a book for the entire church, given byGod to all holy communities so that they may be oneheavenly bride for the Divine Groom. Through It, thebeliever enjoys the personal love of God and feels that Itis his own private book, sent to him personally from God,not as an isolated individual but as a living member in the

holy community. The relationship between God and thechurch today can not be understood except in light ofGod's relationship with His people in the Old Testament,because the church is the new Israel which inherited theWord of God and all its promises, appointments,prophecies and commandments.

HOW TO STUDY THE HOLY BIBLE

1 - It is your own personal book, so study it in light of yourown life and your relationship with God. Whatever isfound in it, whether it is promises, commandments orcontempt, is for you. Underline verses that containpromises so you can concentrate on them in prayers.

2 - Search in what you read for our Lord Jesus and howHe treats others, and see where you stand with Him.

3 - Read with compassion and modesty, because Godresists the conceited but gives understanding to thehumble.

4 - Get a notebook and summarize what you read, yourthoughts, the verses you like, and don't forget tomemorize at least one verse every day, to keep foryourself a treasure or weapon that may save you in timesof trouble.

Chapter 2

A COMPARISON OF THE TWOTESTAMENTS

OF THE HOLY BIBLE

Christ is the Foundation Which binds the two Testamentstogether

The Old Testament

I. The Pentateuch

• Called the Law

• Declared the need for a Savior for liberation frombondage

• Encompassed the story of humanity from its fall until theit stood on the threshold of the divine promise

II. The Historical Books

• A history of God's work with His people in the new land

(a) The period prior to kings

(b) Era of judges

(c) Era of the kings

(d) Division and captivity

III. The Books of Wisdom

• Give us practical understanding of faith for life with God,to support us until we traverse this life

IV. The Books of Prophecy

• Appearance of prophets in a spiritually dark period,urging people to repent and ascertaining the need for thecoming of Christ

The New Testament

I. The Four Gospels

• Represent the Law of the New Testament

• Describe the coming of the Savior Who calls for allnations, and grants life

• Lead us to the new life - the true promised land that

God gave us

II. The Acts of the Apostles

• A history of God's work with the new Israel through HisHoly Spirit

(a) He does not ask for an earthly kingdom

(b) Christ is the Judge

(c) Christ is the King

(d) We are free of divisions

III. The Epistles

• Give us practical understanding of theology and faith,that support us in life with God in His Son through theHoly Spirit, the path to Heaven!

IV. The Book of Revelation

• The book of prophecies in the New Testament, urgingus to persevere in the Lord, awaiting the final coming ofChrist.

A CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE

GenesisAdam

↓Noah and the Flood

↓Era of the Patriarchs

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph↓

Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, DeuteronomyMoses and Exodus

↓

Joshua

Joshua and Canaan↓

JudgesJudges↓KingsSaul, David, Solomon↓ ↓

The Kingdom of Judah The Kingdom of IsraelSouthern Kingdom Northern KingdomJerusalem its capital Samaria its capital↓Amos, Hosea↓Isaiah, MicahCaptivity of samaria↓Nahum, ZephaniahJeremiah, Habakkuk↓Ezekiel, DanielCaptivity of Jerusalem↓Haggai, Zechariah↓Obadiah, Malachi↓Return from Captivity↓Maccabee

The Four Gospels↓

The Appearance of Christ in the Roman Period↓

The Acts and EpistlesThe Church of Christ

↓Revelation↓Against the false christAppearance of Elijah and Enoch↓The End of Time and the final Coming of Christ

Chapter 3

The Five Books of Moses

Their Title

They are called the "Pentateuch" in Greek, meaning the"five containers" or the "five books". Jews called them the"Torah" or the "Law" (Joshua 1:8).

Their Unity

These books represent a part of history, that begins withCreation and ends on the eastern bank of the JordanRiver as Moses, representing the Law, turns over hisleadership to Joshua, representing Jesus; the Law leadsus to Christ (Romans 10:4).

In these books, history mixes with faith, so that the historybecomes inseparable from religious belief ... nonethelessthis history is preparatory for the coming of the Savior.

These books are united together by four principles whichwork together as the threads woven into a fabric. Theseare "The Divine Promise", "God has chosen us", "TheDivine Covenant", and "The Law."

Their Author

The author is Moses the prophet according to thetestimony of the two testaments: the Old (Exodus 17:14 &24:4 and Numbers 33:2) and the New according to theLord Christ and His apostles (John 5:46).

Their Outline

I. Preparing for Salvation: The Book of Genesis1 - Creation: As an introduction to the history of salvation1-11

2 - The Patriarchs: As preparation to announce theIncarnation of the Savior

+ Abraham 12-25

+ Isaac 25-26

+ Jacob 26-36

+ Joseph 37-50

II. Choosing His People: The First Part of the Book ofExodus

Choosing His people and liberating them from slavery bythe blood of the lamb 1-18

III. Supporting His PeopleA - The Second Part of Exodus

+ By introducing the Law and a covenant 19-24

+ By accepting a tabernacle amongst them 25-31

+ By renewing two tablets 32-34

+ By establishing a tabernacle 35-40

B - The Book of Leviticus

+ Sacrifices as symbols of the Cross 1-7

+ Priesthood, a symbol of Christ the Priest 8-10

+ By the canon of circumcision as a symbol of the work ofChrist 11-16

+ By Mosaic worship 17-26

+ By His acceptance of their offerings and tithes 27

IV. His people in the Wilderness: The Book ofNumbers

The Struggle for God

+ Consensus of the people and organization 1-10

+ The trip from Sinai to Moab 11-33

+ Events in Moab 33-36

V. Moses in Moab: The Book of Deuteronomy

Looking for the Savior

+ Moses prepares for the events 1-4:33

+ Explaining the meaning of the covenant 4:34-11

+ The Law 12-26

+ The blessings and the curses 27-30

+ The selection of Joshua 31

+ Praying for victory 32

+ The blessing of the tribes 33

+ The death of Moses and his burial 34

Chapter 4

Moses The ProphetAnd

His Five Books

Moses as the Author

1. The testimony of the Old Testament

Exodus 24:4 & 25:1

Deuteronomy 31:9 & 31:24-26

Ezra 3:2 & 6:18

Nehemiah 13:1

Malachi 4:4

2. The testimony of the New Testament

Matthew 8:4

Acts 15:21

Corinthians 3:15

3. It is apparent from their chapters that Moses, who wasbrought up in Egypt and had learned the wisdom of theEgyptians, was the author:

(a) Addition of many Egyptian words (Genesis 41:45 &47:11 and Exodus 1:11).

(b) Inclusion of many Egyptian customs in detail, such as:the marriage of eunuchs; presenting a ring and placing agold chain around the neck of someone to be honoredwith authority (Genesis 41:42); the forbidance ofEgyptians from eating with Hebrews (Genesis 43:32).

(c) Knowledge of the writer about the land of the priests inEgypt (Genesis 47:22).

(d) Familiarity of the writer with the banks of the Nile andwith the wilderness of the desert, Egyptian papyrus(Exodus 2:3), and Egyptian geography (Exodus 13:20;14:2).

(e) Canons associated with Leviticus fit Moses' era,mixing religious, civil, social, and economic laws. Themixture of canon with narrative history indicates that itwas written during the wandering in the wilderness. Somebefitting nomadic tent dwellers. It is noticeable that thenarrative avoids any flattering remarks about the sun, sothat his audience does not fall into sun worship like theEgyptians.

(f) The solution in the Book of Deuteronomy to expel theCanaanites from the cities, fits the time of Moses, not thethat of the kings (Deuteronomy 20:10-20).

4. Moses was the most capable human that God's Spiritcould use in writing these books, for he had learned thewisdom of the Egyptians (Exodus 2:10 & Acts 7:21)including writing; he had received the details of Creationthrough an oral tradition from Adam; and his experienceas a shepherd for 40 years gave him the vigor tocontemplate on God's love and His design, and kindledhis heart to write. In the wilderness, he concerned himselfwith the pragmatic leadership of his people, andconsidered writing these books part of his leadership,especially after he left small matters to the elders on theadvice of his father-in-law (Exodus 18:13-26).

Chapter 5

Introduction to Genesis

OUTLINE

Primeval history 1-11

The God's relationship with the first patriarchs 12-50

Abraham 12-25

Isaac 21-27

Jacob 25-50

Joseph 37-50

ITS PURPOSE AND CHARACTERISTICS

This book opens the door for correctly understanding God.

1 - God is the Father, who created everything for man hisbeloved son, and established him as master of the earthand what surrounds it.

2 - He cares that every human should enter with Him intoa personal relationship, and offers humans His DivineMysteries.

3 - He gave to man the commandment to practice lovewith obedience and exchange love with love, respectinghis sacred free will.

4 - He pointed out the sanctity of the body, marriage,human life and material creation, and declared man'sneed for salvation and renewal of his creation.

5 - Moses the prophet wrote it in historical form not aspoetry in order to show us the truth with simplicity andclarity, unlike the fairy tales that had spread all over theworld.

6 - It is the book of beginnings: the beginning of creation(1:1); the beginning of man (1:27); the beginning of theSabbath (2:2,3); the beginning of marriage (2:22-24); thebeginning of sin (3:6); the beginning of sacrifice orsalvation (3:15); the beginning of prophecy (3:15); thebeginning of human authority (9:1-6); the beginning ofnations (11); and the beginning of God's people (12:1-3).

PROPHECIES IN GENESIS

1 - The coming of Christ by birth from a woman without aman's seed (3:15)

2 - On the descendants of Abram (12:3)

3 - On the descendants of Judah (49:10)

SYMBOLS OF CHRIST IN GENESIS

1 - In objects: the Tree of Life (3:22); the coat of skin(3:21); the ark (1 Pet 3:20,21); and Jacob's ladder (28:12).

2 - In people: Melchizedek (14:18-20 and Hebrews 8); thesacrificial Isaac; and Joseph.

Primeval History "over 2000years"

The First Patriarchs"200 years"

God the controller of events God concerned withpersonalities

1-Creation for man 1-2 1-Abraham 2-25

2-The fall and promise ofsalvation 3-4

2-Isaac 12-37

3-Noah and renewal of theworld 5-10

3- Jacob 25-36

4-Tower of Babel and startof nations 11

4- Joseph 37-50

Chapter 6

Primeval HistoryGenesis 1-11

Genesis 1

Creation of the World

Creation and Modern Science

+ Many research publications have found agreementbetween modern science and what is found in theseverses concerning Creation and its stages. The word"create" in Hebrew does not mean getting something fromnothing, but "to make" or "to manufacture," implying Godhad first created the elements and then gave them formand beauty. The meaning of the word "day" does notmean 24 hours, but a period that may be millions of years(St. Jerome).

+ How can we explain the presence of human bones onemillion years old?... and the existence of artifacts thatpredate Adam?

1. Using mathematical calculations, man cannot be morethan 6000 years old. Assuming that every family hadthree children (a low number compared to previouscenturies) and after accounting for natural death,catastrophes, and wars, we find that the world'spopulation would approximate what it actually is now. Ifhuman history goes back to a million years, then theworld's population today would have needed several

thousand times the land space we have now.

2. The ancient bones found were those of mammals thatresembled humans and that had their own abilities.

God the Creator (1:1)

The writer used the Hebrew word "Elohim" which is plural,and then uses the verb create in the singular form in thephrase "In the beginning God created the heavens andthe earth" (1:1) in order to prepare the mind to accept themystery of the Holy Trinity which assures our salvation byunity through the Divine Substance. One time he callsHim "Yahweh" to confirm that God is above allconsiderations; and another time he calls Him "ElShaddai" for he is the Almighty who is concerned withmatters both large and small in the lives of His children;and "Elyon" or the highest, so he raises our hearts high;and "El Awlam" meaning eternal so he takes us beyondtime in order that we may enjoy His eternal presence.

Stages of Creation

The First Period: The Appearance of Light:

+ The appearance of light was considered the beginningof Creation, so that God's work could be seen andglorified. He confirms that He existed before and hadcreated the elements. He stated "The earth was withoutform and void" (1:2). The writer does not explain thetheory of Creation but reveals the love of the Creator, andinformation pertaining to life and salvation, truths that arenot for scientific research. (God gave man a mind to

explore science in concordance with faith). The Holy Bibleis not a history of the earth, but that of man, specificallyhis salvation.

+ We find that before Creation, the spirit of God movedupon the surface of the waters (1:1), and in the renewal ofCreation we find that the Spirit of God works throughwater in baptism to give us a new world as children ofGod. The Spirit of God still ripples in our hearts as it didover the earth which was without form and void (1:2)harboring the kingdom of God.

+ Light appeared before the sun ... new researchconfirms that light existed before the complete formationof the sun, while it was still in its primordial haziness.

+ From the symbolic point of view, God's work began withthe appearance of light so that those in heaven (angels)would see what he created and glorify Him; He still givesus light through the water of baptism (the mystery of light)so that we may glorify Him for His work in us in Hisrenewal of our creation.

+ God separates between light and darkness, and we aschildren of God have to possess this sense of distinctionand wisdom.

+ Darkness is not a created element, but is deprivationfrom light.

The Second Period: The Firmament (Heaven or Dome)

+ What is meant by firmament is not space, but what isabove the earth, for it is a high or supreme place.

+ When the earth cooled, the temperature dropped, and

the weather cleared, the firmament appeared, separatingthe earth with its oceans from the clouds.

+ This is the heaven of the second day, which the modernbeliever can not first comprehend, let alone understandthe planets and stars, except by growth in his faith andhis association with God. It should be noted that therewas only one body of water; today's oceans and seaswere later formed as a result of various natural events. Allseven oceans have scientifically been shown to have acommon origin, sharing a similar bottom.

The Third Period: The Appearance of Vegetation on Earth

What Moses states is that simple plants (grasses)appeared first, then grains, then trees bearing fruit; andthen, in sequence, marine creatures, birds, wild beasts,and finally man. This order concurs with biologicalstudies. Who taught Moses what we know only now in thetwentieth century?!

God in his compassion first created plants so that animalscould feed when they were created, then made theanimals to serve man when he was created; Creation wasnot haphazard but according to God Almighty's plan.

The Fourth Period : The Creation of the Solar Systems

+ Some may wonder "How did God create the sun in thefourth period when the earth was already created andscience assures us that the sun preceded the earth bymillions of years?" The sun was created in the fourthperiod but was in a state of haziness during prior periods,because light had appeared the first day of Creation as

rays emanating from a haze prior to complete formationof the sun.

+ Our Christ is the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2).He shines on His church with His Light so that it becomesa moon (Revelation 12:1) and each member a star(Daniel 12:3).

+ "God set them in the firmament of the heavens to givelight upon the earth" (1:17). Each spiritual star wants topreserve its nature as a bright star, and must shine onothers with love and truth, so that it preserves the Spirit ofGod in heavenly life, and carries the new nature in theHeavenly Christ.

+ We thank God for the sun which brightens the day sothat we may work, and for the stars that light the nightand give it wonder and special beauty, without deprivingus from the blessing of rest and sleep, as long as oursouls are awake spiritually.

The Fifth Period : The Creation of Fish and Birds

+ About fish He said: "Let the waters abound with anabundance of living creatures" (1:20). The waters thenproduced living beings by the Word of God; in the sameway the water of baptism produces living beings (childrenof God) by the Grace and Word of God.

+ Reptiles represent evil thoughts that make us crawlupon the ground, so that our hearts are soiled by dust,unlike the birds which soar in the proximity of heaven. Hewho looks at a woman with lust becomes as a snakecrawling in the dust; only if we leave in her hands theEgyptian garment (like Joseph) can we fly with the wingsof the Holy Spirit and be saved from her trickery and soarin the heavens (39:7). He who steals crawls with his

heart, but he who gives charity flies in the heavens.

The Sixth Period: The Creation of Animals and Man

+ God prepared everything to create animals and thencreated man, giving him all his needs, seen and unseen.

+ In creating man, He said "Let Us make man in Ourimage according to Our likeness" (1:26).

1 - God did not create man similar to an unlimited numberof other creations, but rather in His own image in order toestablish a personal and loving relationship, not as somemodern unholy philosophies suggest: that Goddissociated himself from the world, made man a slave,and took away his free will. This point is clear throughoutthe entire Holy Bible, especially after the Incarnationbecause the Word of God came down to us and assumedour nature so that we may enter with Him into a lovingrelationship.

2 - We do not find in Creation the word "We make" exceptin reference to man, for the Holy Trinity desired to use theplural form to reveal to us Their work in the very belovedman.

3 - God made us in his image, bearing one soul (existent,articulate, and alive) the image of the Holy Trinity (DivineBeing, Divine Word, and Divine Life).

4 - He made man the king of all creation, giving himauthority over everything (1:26).

5 - From the beginning, God sanctified sex: "male andfemale He created them" (1:27) similarly, marriage andbirth (Hebrews 28). [Refer to my book Let Me Grow].

6 - God did not see "everything that he had made, and,behold, it was very good" (1:31) until after He had createdman.

+ + +

Genesis 2Adam in Paradise

This chapter reveals God's purpose in His Creation:

1. Sanctification of the Sabbath (2:1-3)

The word "Sabbath" means rest; rest for God does notmean that He stopped working, as the Lord Christ said"My Father has been working until now and I have beenworking" (John 5:17); His rest is to find his beloved manin paradise not in need of anything. He rested afterhaving created everything for our sake; He placed us in ajoyful heavenly life and gave man a purposeful marriedlife. Therefore our reverence for the Sabbath is ussanctifying our lives so that God may rest in us. We findthat there is no night on the seventh day, because God'srest is in us and ours is in Him, and leads us to an eternitywithout end, the Lord's eternal day.

Christ is the true Sabbath in Whom the Father rests,because He finds us His children sanctified in truth, andin Christ we also rest because we find communion withthe Father and enjoyment of Divine Fatherhood; we findHis arms open to us! When we unite with Christ, webecome ourselves a "Sabbath" that the Lord may rest in,and all our lifebecomes a "Sabbath", a continuous joyful

feast.

2. Adam in Paradise (2:4-14)

God rested by creating his beloved man, and man rests inheavenly life which is in essence his existence with God.

(a) The Garden of Eden was in northern Iraq and its riverwas the Euphrates.

(b) God made man to work the earth (2:5), not to bebound by a heavy obligation, but as a chance to enjoywork and feel its fruits. Work is a divine commandment,and at the same time, a divine gift that pleases the heart.

(c) The tree of life is a symbol of the Lord Christ, whogives life (John 3:15), and wisdom (Proverbs 3:18).

(d) The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is in itselfgood, but disobedience is what brought us death.

(e) The river in Eden is God's Spirit which floods ourearth, changing our desolate nature to a paradise thatpleases God's heart (John 7:38). Its division into fourriverheads, signifies the flood of the Holy Spirit over thechurch throughout the world, from East to West and fromNorth to South.3. The Divine Commandment (2:15-17)

Before giving His commandment to man, God gave himthe garden of Eden and flooded him with love, so that thecommandment would not be forced authority on another,but an opportunity that God gave his beloved man to

reciprocate love for love through obedience. Without thecommandment, man would not have been able toreciprocate God's love as he should, and exercise hisfreewill.

With the commandment, He gave man the ability to fulfillit, and gave him authority and a noble nature so that hewould not feel deprivation or humiliation.

Along with the commandment, He made clear the price ofdisobedience: "you shall surely die" (2:17) ... this is not adivine revenge because God does not avenge Himself,but it is the fruit of man's separation from God, the sourceof his life. The severity of the punishment is proportionalto man's freedom and the abilities given to us, and itgives prominence to the power of salvation which is givenby the Father through the sacrifice of His One and OnlySon.4. Creation of Eve (2:18-25)

+ God reveals the sanctity of sex by saying "It is not goodthat man be alone; I will make him a helper comparable tohim" (2:18). Man is in need of woman to support himphysically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually(exchange of thoughts). She is his equivalent on everylevel.

+ Marriage in paradise took place between one man andone woman, a symbol of the union of Christ with thechurch (Ephesians 5:32).

+ Eve was created from Adam's side while he was in adeep sleep, to ensure Adam's need for her when heawoke, and that they may work together. The church wascreated through Christ's Blood as He slept on the cross.

+ "And they were both naked, man and his wife, and were

not ashamed" (2:25). They were not ashamed of theirbodies, because the body is God's good creation. All itsmembers are sanctified in God. Shame is the fruit ofdisgrace which came to us through our deviation and oursins.

+ + +Genesis 3

THE FALL OF MAN

God gave man everything, especially human freedoms,but man misused it.

1. The Deceitful Snake (3:1-7)

+ The enemy of good (Satan) used an unadulteratedcreature (the snake) as an instrument to destroy man; thedefect was not in the instrument but in the man whoengaged in a futile conversation with the snake. We wishto escape from foolish, destructive discussions (2 Timothy2:23). The devil has no power over us, but he has theright to tempt us; if we give him access to our mind andlet him control our thoughts we will find difficulty inexpelling him, but by the grace of God we are capable ofeverything.

+ Adam was tempted in heaven and fell, and we inheritedthe seeds of corruption, therefore the Word of God

became incarnate as a second Adam, was tempted in thewilderness (Matthew 4) and was victorious so that wemay inherit spiritual victory.

+ Their eyes were opened (3:7) and they acquired thenew knowledge of wickedness which mixed with humanlife and corrupted it, as indicated by the feeling ofnakedness or shame which is something alien to thenature of the body.

2. God's Concern for Man (3:8-24)

+ "And they heard the sound of the Lord walking in thegarden in the cool of the day" (3:8) ... it is the Word("sound") of God Who descended to us in the midst of Hisday of love, breaking on us and shining His light overthose sitting in darkness (Matthew 4:16) searching for us:"Where are you?" (3:9). He wants us not to be afraid(3:10) but to be with Him.

+ Man blamed someone else (3:12-13): Adam did not say"the woman tempted me" but "gave me" because heknew that what he did was wrong and was for his love ofwoman which was external to the Lord's commandment,similar to Solomon worshipping the gods of the women heloved (I Kings 11:4); in spite of that, God gave salvation toboth sexes: man and woman.

+ Adam blamed God because He created Eve for him(3:12), instead of blaming himself for succumbing to sin.All this did not stop God's stream of love towards him.

+ The first prophecy dealing with the coming of the Savioris: "And I will put enmity between you (the snake) and thewoman, and between your seed and her Seed: He shallbruise your head and you shall bruise His heel" (3:15).The Lord Christ came from a woman without a man's

seed.

+ Woman's punishment: "I will greatly multiply yoursorrow in your conception; in pain you shall bring forthchildren: and your desire shall be for your husband, andhe shall rule over you" (3:16). The punishment turned intoa blessing, when the new Eve - the church - gave birth tospiritual children of God through her pains (Galatians4:19), and she longed for her man - the Lord Christ - Whoflooded her with love.

+ Man's punishment (3:17-19): The earth (the body)produced thorns and thistles, as the body lost its holinessand life turned into bitterness. It was said "For dust youare, and to dust you shall return", but regarding theHeavenly Christ we are told "you are a heaven, and toheaven you shall return."

+ God gave them coats of skin not silk, a symbol of thetoils of repentance. Perhaps the skin may have comefrom the sacrifice of a lamb so that God might teachAdam and Eve sacrifice, symbolic of Christ's sacrifice onthe cross.

+ In our disobedience we expelled ourselves fromparadise, but God gave us back a greater paradise byshedding the Blood of the Incarnate Word of God, for Hesaid "today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).God put a cherub on guard after expelling man, until theOne who sits on the cherubim came Himself to carry uson his wounded side and allow us entry into the heavenlyparadise.

+ + +

Genesis 4

Cain & Abel

The story of Cain and Able came after the narrative onthe fall of man to show that sin had seeped down toAdam's descendants.

Differences Between Cain and Abel

1 - Eve, realizing that her child was a gift from God, calledhim Cain (4:1). Following his birth, she thought that thecoming of the promised Savior was near, and she wasexpecting Him.

2 - Cain was her firstborn by the flesh, but Abelrepresented her spiritual firstborn, whose sacrifice wasacceptable and his life a comfort to God. Cainrepresented Adamwho destroyed humanity by his ownhand, but Abel symbolized the Lord Christ who gave us aspiritual first-birth (Hebrew 12:23).

Paul, the apostle, said: "However, the spiritual is not first,but the natural, and afterwards the spiritual" (1Corinthians 15:46); this is the difference between the firstAdam and the second Adam, the Lord Christ. It wasrepeated with Abraham and his brothers (he was not thefirstborn); Ishmael and Isaac; Esau and Jacob; and Zerahand Perez. Zerah fought and beat Perez (his twin) out ofthe womb in order to become the firstborn (Genesis38:27-30). Similarly, we, the church of all the nations, wonfirstborn status from the earthly Israel.

Abel's Offering

Why was it accepted while Cain's was not?

1 - Because Abel gave his sacrifice in faith (Hebrew11:4); he believed in salvation and was awaiting thecoming of the promised sacrificial Messiah. With suchfaith the soul is justified (Romans 5:1) and the heart ispurified (Acts 15:9), and we shall overcome the world (1John 5:14).

2 - Cain presented to the Lord fruits of the land that werenot from the first harvest, an insincere offering of materialthings, but Abel gladly gave firstlings from his flock andtheir fat (4:3-5). He was sincere in his sacrifice. The firstgave his offering hesitantly, for it was said "in the processof time."

3 - Cain was "a tiller of the land", unlike Noah who was a"farmer" (9:20). The first expression connotes a personwho is preoccupied by worldly affairs, whereas thesecond connotes someone who manages worldly matterswith the Spirit of God, so that he may be fruitful as aspiritual farmer.

Abel's Murder

+ As a result of sin (his insincere offering), Cain lost hispeace and his face was full of sadness (4:5); in spite ofthat, God gave him His love and left him hope, warninghim against succumbing to anger (4:7).

+ Cain thought that he would find peace by killing Abel,but the voice of Abel still echoed, as did the voice of Godasking about his brother Abel so that Cain might ask forforgiveness (4:8-10).

+ God said that the voice of Abel's blood could be heardin heaven, symbolic of the Lord Christ's Blood whichintercedes on behalf of those on earth so that He maylead them into heaven.

+ Where is your brother Abel? Still the voice of Godcontinues to call us: Where are our brothers? Do yousearch for those who died in sin, or do you not care thatJesus's Blood was shed for them?

+ The price of what Cain committed:

1 - "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield itsstrength to you." (4:12) because of the crime, the land(body) acquired a kind of bleakness, thus the bodybecame a burden on the soul.

2 - "I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth"(4:14). The soul became restless and was without peace,in a state of loss and fear. It was said: "Then Cain wentout from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land ofNod on the East of Eden" (4:16); that is to say the soulleft the embrace of the Lord, its source of tranquillity, todwell in Nod which means "the banishment" or"wandering." Nonetheless, the Lord gave him a mark toalleviate his fear (4:15); it was the symbol of promise andreconciliation, namely the sign of cross.

Cain's Children

+ Cain built a city for his children so that they would not

be lost ... a human solution for the problem.

+ Lamech stated "For I have killed a man for woundingme, even a young man for hurting me." (4 :23); it wassaid that Lamech became very old and his sight haddeteriorated such that his grandson used to guide him inhunting which he liked; his grandson pointed to a preyand shot an arrow that hit his grandfather Cain, who wasinadvertently killed; when the grandson screamed thatCain had been killed, Lamech beat the boy and killed him- believing that if he killed, he deserved to be killed.

+ + +

Genesis 5Death

As a result of sin, both spiritual and bodily death enteredhuman life; for no matter how long a man lives, he cannotescape death. In the midst of this dark period lived Enochwho was taken up (translocated) to God because of hispurity (5:21-24).

Enoch represents members of the church who will notsee death at the coming of our Lord Jesus, but will beelevated with Him over the clouds to enjoy with othermembers glorious eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

Enoch also symbolizes the evangelic life that conquers

death (Matthew 16:18) and is considered a living exampleof those who are quickly translocated to the Lord, if theyreject the love of earthly matters.

Regarding Methuselah, his name means "man of arms";he had the longest life recorded in the Holy Bible.

+ + +Genesis 6-10

Noah and Renewal of The World

"Noah" or "rest" (also "comfort") came during the renewalof the world through the water of the flood, as with thewater of baptism.

Noah's Ark (Genesis 6)

The fifth chapter tells of the bodily death of Adam and hischildren, but the story of Noah tells of inner spiritual deathas a result of corruption and of the need for salvationthrough the ark.

Marriage became open lust, as the sons of God took forthemselves women from the daughters of men - that isthe children of Seth, who were supposed to live as God'sangels and as sons of the Most High, married the wickeddaughters of Cain because of their physical beauty - sothe earth was corrupted (6:11) and full of darkness (6:13).

Within this corrupt environment lived Noah whorepresented what remained of what was of God. Godordered him to build an ark that symbolized the crosswhich gives salvation or redemption. The floodsymbolizes the baptism that is sanctified by the cross. Wetherefore encounter water, wood (the cross), a dove (theHoly Spirit), and a raven (sin).

The ark also represents the church, the body of thecrucified Christ, made of wood from square boards(Septuagint). These boards are the prophets and theapostles, through whom the library of Divine Knowledgewas established. Its measurements may be described as:its length is faith, its width is love, and its height is hope.

Its length was 300 cubits. The number 300 representsChrist's flock (Luke 15:4-5) who were sanctified by theirbelief in the Trinity.

Its width was 50 cubits. The number 50 represents theenjoyment of forgiveness from sin and liberation (Jubilee)by the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), the Spirit of Love.

Its height was 30 cubits. The number 30 reminds us ofJoseph who left prison for the palace at the age of 30, asif from earth to heaven; it was said as "our road toheaven."

St. Augustine saw the measurements (300 x 50 x 30) asrepresenting those of the perfect man: the perfect Christwho was incarnated and lay on the cross like an ark in themidst of the currents of the world, to rescue us. The ark issymbolic of the Lord Christ because:

1 - Whoever is outside will perish; that is, whoever doesnot believe in Him will be judged (John 3:18).

2 - Whoever believes in Him will be saved, and those inChrist find peace (Romans 5:1).

3 - It has an entrance, and Christ is the door; whoeverenters through Him will be saved (John 10:9)

4 - The ark withstood the storms of judgment as Christwithstands our judgment (Psalms 69:2 & 42:7), and hischurch passes through difficult times without movement(Psalm 46:5) and the gates of hell shall not prevailagainst it (Matthew 16:18).

The ark was painted inside and outside with pitch (tar),symbolizing renunciation (the exterior paint) and purity(the interior paint); by them, man is preserved by the HolySpirit to glorify God.

The side door is the wound in Christ's side as he lay onthe cross.

The three levels represent interpretations of the HolyBible: literal interpretation (the lower), behavioral or moralinterpretation (the middle), and spiritual or symbolicinterpretation (the top). As we climb to the top level, wefind the church containing eight people (1 Peter 3:20, 21)where the number 8 signifies what is beyond time(because the number 7 refers to the days of the weekwhich repeat themselves), as if through spiritualinterpretation the believer enjoys a heavenly ecclesiasticlife that transcends time. But for those who do not enjoyspiritual biblical thought, "as it was in the days of Noah, ...They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were givenin marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, andthe flood came and destroyed them all" (Luke 17:26, 27).Their sins were not eating or drinking, but theirinvolvement in these matters without regard to theirspiritual life or to heavenly thought.

The Flood (Genesis 7)

+ God was saddened that people had turned away fromHim (6:7), but was pleased with Noah's righteousness(7:1) which was based on faith (Hebrews 11:7) andobedience (7:5), even in the face of mockery from others.God saw his righteousness (7:1) and cared for hissalvation through the ark, specifying every last detailabout the ark and what it should contain, even thenumber of unclean animals, in order to establish with hima new covenant (6:18).

+ How did Noah know which animals were clean and

which were not clean? He knew this through the oraltradition that preceded the Law.

+ The flood lasted 40 days and nights. The number 40represents our life on earth; consequently, we mustspend all the days of our sojourn on earth in theprotection of Jesus Christ, in order to withstand thestorms around us, and at the same time enjoy thecontinuous effect of baptism through perpetualrepentance and renewal.

+ The procession moved towards the ark for seven days... Noah, his wife, his children and their wives, theanimals, the caged birds, etc. ... is a vivid picture of theceaseless activities of the church throughout time to leadevery soul into Christ, the Savior of the world, and giverenewal to everyone. It never stops working and hopingfor the salvation of man, even to his last breath.

+ The spiritual man bears an endless flood in a life ofcontinuous repentance, so that God may break open fromhis land (body) exceptionally deep fountains(7:11) thatwash away and destroy everything, and his heaven (soul)opens up with unending spiritual rain (7:11). Thus thebody is reconciled with the soul in order that both maywork in the guidance of God's Spirit to crush the deeds ofthe ancients and enjoy a new life with the Lord.

+ "And the Lord shut him in" (7:16). He had David's key(Revelation 3:7) Who opens for us the doors of paradiseby His cross, and closes them for us to be with Himforever, so evil never seeps back into us and He Himselfkeeps us safe.

+ "And the waters prevailed on the earth" (7:17-24), sothe ark was lifted up and moved upon the surface ofwater. Similarly, the waters of baptism cover and inundate

us, submerging everything that is earthly and elevatingour lives high so we may ask for the heavenly. Thewaters also represent the temptations that push the ark ofour lives moving against fierce waves, but they elevate usabove the love of the worldly matters to enjoy that whichis heavenly.

The Salvation of Noah through the Ark (Genesis 8)

+ The raven represents the worldly man who finds hispleasure in putrid and unclean places, but the spiritualbeliever never remains in an evil place and cherishes thepromise of the new life.

+ The raven represents sin that goes away and does notreturn if we live in the righteousness of Christ.

+ The dove flew out 3 times: The first time, it symbolizesthe soul that is aflame with the Spirit of God and neverrests on anything putrid or wicked, but returns to findChrist's hands out and safety in His embrace; the secondtime, it returns to declare Christ's peace; and the lasttime, it flies to the new land (eternal life).

+ After 600 years of life, Noah removed the cover of theark to look for the new world - similarly we pass 6 days tolook for the last, eternal Sabbath, heavenly life.+ The Events of the Flood:

Noah enters the ark and the flood begins on 2/17/ 600(according to his age}

Rain falling and flooding 40 days

Water prevails over the earth (150 days, includes 40 daysof flood) 110 days

Appearance of the mountain tops 74 days

Sending the raven after 40 days (Genesis 8:6-7) 40 days

Sending the dove the first time after 7 days 7 days

Sending the dove the second time 7 days

Sending the dove the third time 7 days

From sending the dove until removing the cover (1/1/601his age) 29 days

From removing the cover to leaving (2/7/601 his age,Genesis 8:14) 57 days

_______

Total 371 days

+ Noah began the new life by building an altar to theLord; so the Lord expressed his satisfaction withhumanity (8:20-22).

Renewal of the Covenant (Genesis 9)

+ God blessed Noah as He had blessed Adam an Eve,saying "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth (9:1); itwas as if man started over again in a new world. Thisblessing symbolizes the blessing that was given to thechurch in Christ, a New Noah Who gives comfort or rest,and by Whom the church became fruitful with children of

God.

+ Noah was given a new law, man was permitted to eatanimal meat (9:3-4). He was warned against drinkingblood [to be apprehensive of brutality, and emphasize theawesome nature of the Blood that was shed for us(Hebrew 9:22 & 1 Peter 1:19)].

+ Since the punishment that took place was throughnature, in the form of a flood, the new covenant was givenwith a sign of nature, the rainbow. Christ our Lord is thebow with which we overcome sin and conquer Satan.God declared that He was pleased with His covenant withman, so He called it "My covenant" (9:9, 11, 15), and "Myrainbow" (9:13).

+ God gave his children a sign to remind them of Hiscovenant, and at the same time He wanted to forget theirsins.

+ The sign of the covenant appears in between darkclouds, as the cross appears in the midst of our sins todisperse them.

Noah Drinking Wine (Genesis 9)

+ How weak is our nature?! For we fell from grace in thegarden of Eden; we fell after expulsion; we fell in the newworld (with drunkenness and nakedness); we fell in theland of bondage; we fell in the wilderness (worshipping ofthe calf); and we fell in Canaan (worshipping the gods ofother nations). Truly, we were in need of someone torenew our nature!

+ The descendants of Ham were cursed because he

exposed the indecency of others; but he who is discretewith the impropriety of his brethren, will receive blessingand his own improprieties will be covered. (Ham himselfwas not cursed but rather his descendants, becauseHam's son greatly mocked his grandfather).

+ Ham sinned because he exposed his father'sindecency, an act that is forbidden by natural law and thatof Moses which followed.

+ Noah did sin but God, in his love, transformed the sininto a blessing, symbolic of the Lord Christ who drankfrom the cup of our sins and was bared on the cross forour sake.

+ Shem, from whose line of descent came Abraham andconsequently the Lord Christ, was blessed; Japheth,whose name means "may (God) enlarge or fill", was alsoblessed such that God opened the dwellings of Shem toreceive Japheth, that is, to receive all nations, meaningthe church (9:27).

Population of the New World (Genesis 10)

+ The lineage of Noah's children reveals the origins ofancient nations. Professor Kautysch of Haile has stated"It is an absolutely unequaled register of the origin ofnations and their development, confirmed by all previousarchaeological discoveries."

+ The purpose of this chapter is not to show how nationswere established, but to prepare for the establishment ofthe old nation from which the Lord Christ was to come asa savior for all nations.

+ + +Genesis 11

TheTower of Babel

+ Some have tried to search for the language that peoplefirst used before division into nations. Was it Hebrew, orChaldean (Syriac)? We can say that the language bywhich the world lived was love, a language that has noboundaries. With love, man can converse with God,heavenly beings, saints, and all humanity, in joy andhappiness. Love is the language of Heaven. This was thegift of the Holy Spirit, on the fiftieth day, which returned allnations and all peoples into one body with Christ as thehead.

+ It was stated that Nimrod, who was from Ham's lineage,founded the city of Babel, which was built by man toprotect himself from God's anger. Thus, Babel became asymbol of man's arrogance and corruption.

+ God confused their speech so that they could not agreeon evil deeds, using His punishment to establish nationsand peoples.

+ After the narrative concerning Babel and its tower, thechapter deals with the descendants of Shem (11:10-26)including Abraham, from whose lineage came theIncarnation of the Word of God, who will erect a heavenlycity in order to gather His church from all peoples andnations (Revelation 7:9).

+ At this point, the narrative focuses on Abraham and Lot(11:27-33) who lived in Ur of the Chaldeans; no one butAbraham worshipped God.

Chapter 7

The First PatriarchsChapters 12-50

Genesis 12-25

God's relationship with Abraham

This book does not portray the life of Abraham but ratherthe interaction between God and Abraham. Abraham'slife with the Lord may be divided as follows:

1 - Before reaching Canaan: He was in Ur of theChaldeans. He had married Sarai his half sister who wasnot from his mother (20:12). He left Ur and went to Haranas God had urged him (11:31), where his father Terahdied. At the age of 75, he was called to go into Canaanmost probably by way of Damascus.

2 - His travels in Canaan: He dwelt in Shechem (12:6)then went to Bethel (12:8) then to the Negeb (12:9).When there was a famine he went to Egypt (12:10-20); hethen returned to the South in Palestine (13:1), then toBethel, where he and Lot parted, and headed for theterebinth trees (oaks) of Mamre in Hebron (13:12-18).

3 - His stay by the terebinths of Mamre (between 15 to 20

years): He made a pact with the Amorite kings (14:13).He defeated Chedorlaomer to save Lot (14:1-16). On hisway back, Melchizedek blessed him (14:17-24).

4 - His stay in the South: Abimelech, the king of Gerar,sent to take Sarah for his wife, but God prevented him(20). God tested Abraham, asking him to offer Isaac as asacrifice on a mountain in Moriah; he returned with hisson to Beersheba (22:1-19).

5 - In Hebron: Sarah died and was buried in the cave ofMachpelah.

6 - Perhaps in the South: He sent to bring a wife for Isaac(24); he took Keturah as his wife. He died when he was175 years old and was buried in the cave of Machpelah(25:1 -9).

Abraham's Call (Genesis 12)

Mankind collectively , even after the flood, regarded Godas an adversary, but God in His love searched for asingle person worthy to enjoy the call to be a father to Hispeople and through whose descendants all nations wouldbe blessed. He was called Abram ("exalted father") andthen his name was changed to Abraham ("father of amultitude").

Abram lived on a wealthy commercial coast full ofdisgraceful idol worship (Ur of the Chaldeans) ; it seemedthat even his father was a pagan (Joshua 24:2,3). Helived honestly, so God appointed him the rock from whichGod's chosen people would be carved (Isaiah 5:1-3), andthey would be called Abraham's children. God was

pleased to be associated with him (the God of Abraham),considering "Abraham's embrace" His heavenly paradise.

This call is for every soul to follow the example ofAbraham in:

1 - Practical faith (12:4); faith in a God who supports him(Hebrews 11:8, 9) and his family. Faith that he is astranger in this world (dwelling in tents), awaiting for theheavenly city (Hebrews 11:10).

2 - A call not to leave a place but to release one's heartfrom Babel (the confusion) and to leave behind love of theworld and ego, in order to find the divine embrace.

3 - A spiritual call for man to abandon his land (bodilydesires), his people (old traditions) and his earthly father'shome (attachment to worldly matters), so he may rushtowards his heavenly Father's home.

4 - A call realized through the Holy Spirit by the waters ofbaptism, when we are extracted from our land (our oldhuman nature), our people (evil habits), and our father'shouse (the devil) so we can enter our new heavenlyFather's house, bearing our new humanity.

5 - A call to the land to which God leads us (12:1), thenew heaven which God has declared to us, and which wecannot see by our own human efforts.

6 - A call that becomes a blessing to others (12:2), bycarrying Christ within us so we can introduce Him toothers.

Abraham's Faith and his Weakness

Abraham was the father of the fathers; a man with thegreatest faith (Hebrews 11:8-10). He had full obedience inhis heart, but did not execute it fully in action. He first leftUr of the Chaldeans with his father but the caravanstopped for approximately 15 years in Haran, probablybecause Terah's old age slowed their movement so thecaravan stopped. Abraham left Ur of the Chaldeans (thelight and attractive glitter of the Chaldeans) for Haran,that is to a mountainous area instead of hastening toCanaan which overflowed with milk and honey.

He went to Shechem, which means "shoulder" and wasinhabited by Canaanites who had turned a cold shoulderto God. He probably pitched his tent nearby then went tothe terebinth tree of Moreh (12:6) which is the placewhere, for the first time, Abraham made an altar inCanaan. It was also where Jacob buried the foreign godsand the earrings (35:4), and where Joshua set up a greatstone to bear witness to God's Words to his people(Joshua 24:26, 27). In the place where an altar is placed(worship) evil is buried, righteousness is preached, andGod reveals Himself and His promises (12:7). After thishe moved to Bethel (where he built an altar) then to theSouth (Negeb).

Nevertheless, this great man of faith had his weakness:

1 - He was afraid of famine and went down to Egypt(12:10) without consulting God, so he was temporarilydeprived of his wife when Pharaoh desired her, and hefeared Pharaoh - but God was kind to Abraham even inhis weakness.

2 - His attachment to his father made him reluctant tohasten towards Canaan, so he stayed in Haran (Acts7:2-4).

Abram and Lot Separate (Genesis 13)

Abram 's experience (his trip to Egypt) was beneficial;God turned his weakness into strength. Abram became"very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold" (13:2). Hiswealth did not affect his faith, in contrast to Lot whoseheart was in his worldly wealth and possessions. Therewas strife between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot, butout of love Abram let his nephew choose whateverpleased him. The latter's choice was based on the fertilityof the land without regard for the behavior of itsinhabitants, thus his righteousness suffered because ofthem and eventually he lost everything, even his wife; asfor Abram who was in the company of the Lord, hereceived more blessings here as he would be blessed inheaven.

Lot shared with Abram the same trip of faith, but he didnot possess the same spirit that communed with God.

Abram enjoyed the promise: "Arise, walk in the landthrough its length and its width, for I give it to you,"(13:17). It is a call for a life of meeting ("arise"),continuously being moved by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Battle of Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14)

+ Lot was captured, so Abram rushed with his men tosave him from the hands of Chedorlaomer, king of Elam,who was accustomed to demanding for what belonged toothers. [Abram's servants numbered 318; the number 300in Greek begins with "iota" (symbol of Jesus); 18 beginswith "eta" (name of the Savior); as if those with him werethose who accepted the Lord Jesus our Savior andcarried His symbol and name].

+ God rewarded him with an encounter with Melchizedekwho symbolized the Lord Christ (Hebrews 7).

1. His name "Melchizedek" = king of righteousness(Romans 3:24).

2. His position "king of Salem" = king of peace (John16:33).

3. He was both a king and a priest, something that couldnot exist amongst the Jews, because each of thesebelonged to a different tribe, but the Lord Christ fulfilledboth.

4. The offering of Melchizedek (bread and wine) wasunique, and referred to Christ's Offering.

5. We do not know anything about his father or mother, orthe beginning or the end of his rule - the Lord Christ iswithout an earthly father nor a divine mother, and He iseternal.

6. Christ came with the same rank as Melchizedek todeclare an end to the priesthood of the tribe of Levi andthe beginning of a new priesthood.

7. Abraham, the progenitor of the Levites who collectedtithes, himself offered the tithe (one tenth) toMelchizedek, the symbol of Christ; what if it was the LordChrist Himself?!

+ According to natural and Mosaic law, it was Abram'sright to take his reward, but he refused, declaring hisrichness was in God, and did not deny his servants theirshare (14:21-24). This was a living example of spiritualthinking and maturity.

The Divine Covenant (Genesis 15)

Abram became closer to God by refusing human rewards,so the Lord reciprocated by giving him a promise of"exceedingly great reward" (15:1). He became nearer toGod through practical love towards his brethren, so Godcame closer declaring He was his shield (15:1).

Abram's life was a series of encounters with God and theenjoyment of promises. He believed in God who createsfrom nothing (Romans 4:17-19), and in resurrection fromdeath. He therefore offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice(22); through his faith he attained righteousness (15:6)and gained divine promises.

Abram asked for a sign, not because of doubt, but inorder to understand the mysteries of God; so God askedAbraham to split a heifer, a female goat, and a ram, allthree years old, and then to sacrifice a turtledove and ayoung pigeon without splitting them. Vultures came downon the carcasses so Abram had to drive them away. Asthe sun went down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and wastold that his descendants will be enslaved for fourhundred years in a foreign land; then a burning torchpassed between the split pieces.

1 - The heifer, the female goat, and the ram, refer to thechurch of all the nations that believed in the Trinity, but issplit into the worldly and the spiritual.

2 - The birds (Psalms 55:6) which were not split refer tothe true undivided church (Acts 4:32) that is headedtowards heaven (Philippians 3:20).

3 - The predatory birds are the evil thoughts that hoveraround us but can not take away our sacred offerings.

4 - The deep sleep before sunset refers to Christ layingon the cross.

Abraham and Hagar (Genesis 16)

Anxiety impedes faith; it forced Sarai to expedite thedivine promise in a human way, thus she suffered painand sadness from her maidservant and her child (16:4).Instead of repenting she blamed her husband, telling him"my wrong be upon you", and she asked him to solve theproblem resulting from her human intervention through ahuman solution (dismissal of the maidservant).

Hagar was headed towards Egypt (symbolic of the love ofthe world) and at the spring in the wilderness (baptism)the angel of God appeared to her to redirect her from thewilderness to the heavenly Canaan, that is to Sarai asymbol of the church.

Ishmael was born when Abram was 86 years old, andIsaac was born approximately 14 years later.

Covenant of Circumcision (Genesis 17)

Sarai used human means to fulfill the divine promise, butGod had established with Abram a spiritual covenant.That was the covenant of circumcision, a symbol ofbaptism, where the old human is cut off in order that wecan enjoy becoming a new human in the image of ourCreator (Colossians 3:9, 10). In it God offered Himself in

a "covenant" (17:4), for He is our peace and fulfillment.

1 - Circumcision is the seal of the righteousness of thefaith (Romans 4) which is accompanied by internalcircumcision, such as of the heart, etc.

2 - It is performed on the 8th day after birth, as thenumber 8 refers to what is beyond time, that is heavenlylife.

3 - Abram received the promise of a son from Sarai,whose womb had become like stone [Children will beraised to him from stones (Matthew 3:9)].

4 - Abram's name was changed to Abraham so he maybear a fatherhood to all, and Sarai ("my princess") waschanged to Sarah ("princess") so that both would becomelarge enough in heart for all men. This is the effect ofbaptism: directing us to unlimited love, and a completerenewal of our personalities.

The Unique Feast (Genesis 18)

As Abraham entered into a covenant with God, afriendship developed between them, as revealed duringseveral occasions; thus Abraham was called "God'sfriend" (Isaiah 41:8 & James 2:23) and became worthy toreceive God and two angels.

1 - His proceeding to the door of his tent refers to therelease of the soul above bodily desires, to receive Godwho consecrates both the soul and the body.

2 - The terebinths (oaks) of Mamre refer to the cross of

the Lord Christ, on which we meditate at noon (in themidst of the pains of this world) because the word Mamremeans "revelation" or "vision." Through the cross, ourinner vision is opened in purity so that the Lord finds in usan acceptable banquet (Song of Solomon 2:3).

3 - Some Jewish scholars explain that this banquet tookplace three days after Abraham's circumcision, and thatGod came to heal him. Circumcision was symbolic ofbaptism in the name of the Holy Trinity, through which theLord comes into our hearts which become his heaven(Song of Solomon 4:16).

4 - Through our love for giving and hosting, we receiveGod and his angels (Hebrews 13:2 & Matthew 25:36).

5 - Abraham shared with Sarah his work of love (18:6) ashe did with his young men (18:7). Thus let our soulshasten to work and share with our bodies (Sarah) and ourenergy (young men).

6 - Abraham hastened in his work of love (18:6),generously offering fresh bread; he himself stood to serveit in spite of his advanced age, a wonderful example of asoul aflame with love!

7 - Abraham and Sarah gave a banquet of love to God,so God gave them Isaac ("laughter"), a spiritual pleasure.

8 - Abraham enjoyed conversing with God in love, afterGod declared: "Shall I hide from Abraham what I amdoing?!" (18:17). Abraham conversed with love andpoliteness "Would you also destroy the righteous with thewicked?!", and "Shall not the Judge of all the earth doright?" Be honest with God with all humility.

Burning of Sodom (Genesis 19)

Abraham enjoyed hosting God and the two angels, butLot received only the two angels who came to rescuehim. To some degree Lot must have been materialistic,though he was eager to accommodate the strangers(19:1-3). Thus, we find differences between the twoencounters:

1 - Abraham hosted God at noontime in the full light of theBible, but Lot hosted in the evening because of weaknessin his faith.

2 - Abraham enjoyed having God come to him (18:2), butthe two angels met Lot on the road.

3 - As soon as Abraham invited them he heard "Do asyou have said" (18:5), but Lot had to press upon theangels repeatedly (19:3).

4 - Abraham got to know the mystery of the Trinity, as heasked Sarah to prepare "three measures of fine meal."

5 - Abraham and his wife were blessed with the promisedchild Isaac, but Lot was barely saved and lost his wife.

6 - The banquet ended with Abraham intervening forothers, but Lot had to beg for himself and his daughters todwell in Zoar [he doubted God's promise and did not goto the mountains (19:19)].

7 - Abraham's banquet represented the serene era ofGrace, but Lot's banquet represented the era of the Law

when the people dissented (exposure of evil).

Lot's faith is not deniable. God permitted him to stay inSodom and Gomorrah to be a witness against thesinners, but his faith was small so Lot chose Zoar (little).

God investigated the problem of Sodom and GomorrahHimself: "I will go down now and see" (18:21), and did notsend brimstone and fire until Lot had entered Zoar (19:23,24), a sign of his remarkable guardianship.

Lot chose to dwell in the wicked Sodom, thus hisdaughters absorbed the spirit of wickedness and had twosons from their father, Moab and Ammon, each a leaderof deceitful and wicked nations that opposed God's workand His people.

Sarah and Abimelech (Genesis 20)

After about 23 years, Abraham left the terebinths ofMamre and went to Gerar where its king took Sarah to behis wife with pure intentions and all innocence. God gavehim an infirmity so that he could not sin with her, andasked him to return her to her husband and plead for hisintervention. Sarah represented spiritual wisdom, or theexemplary life, for she was attached to Abraham whopossessed a great heart; thus, Pharaoh could not win herover because of the impurity in his heart, and neithercould Abimelech who represents the wise men of theworld (20:2).

The Birth of Isaac (21)

Isaac was born as a son to fulfill God's promise, not as anatural offspring to Abraham; thus, God brought forthfrom Sarah's hardened womb a child as a blessing.

Isaac was circumcised on the eighth day as God hadcommanded (21:4), and there was a great feast on theday he was weaned. He grew after he was weaned,therefore the feast was a sign of happiness for continuousgrowth (Ephesians 4:13).

The feast affected the hearts of Hagar and Ishmael, andso God told Abraham "Whatever Sarah has said to you,listen to her voice" (21:12). He cast out the son bornaccording to the flesh (symbolic of the Jewish church) sothat the son born through the promise (symbolic of thechurch of the New Testament) may inherit (Galatians4:23-31). Therefore, dismiss the material to accept thespiritual.

Hagar represents the literal Law; she gave her son waterfrom the skins of dead animals so she could only satisfyhis thirst for a while, and thus he remained thirsty andfeeble. A well of water (the well of the Law and theProphets) was beside her but she could not see itbecause she was concerned with the literal and not thespiritual.

On the other hand, we find Abraham making a covenantwith Abimelech asking for Beersheba (21:30) whichrepresents the church that is flooded by the Holy Spirit.He planted trees around it, symbolizing the believers whoare gathered around the waters of baptism.

The Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22)

God tested Abraham to make him even more pure, callingfor the sacrifice of Isaac as a representation of thesacrifice of the Lord Christ:

Abraham, undoubtedly, must have been aware that Goddoes not accept human sacrifice, but when he wasordered to sacrifice his son, he obeyed believing in thefulfillment of the promise that "In Isaac your seed shall becalled" (21:12) and in the resurrection of Isaac from death(Hebrews 11:12), a characterization of the Lord ChristWho rose from the dead and resurrected us with Him. Heoffered Isaac on the land of Moriah, where he later madean altar and sacrifices were continuously offered; somesay that it was the same place where the Lord Christ wascrucified.

Abraham was an obedient man so God gave him Isaacthe obedient son, in true love; Isaac surrendered to thesacrifice without resistance.

Abraham displayed his true faith when he proceeded toexecute the order without hesitation; he did not ask Godhow the promise that in Isaac's seed all nations will beblessed could take place, when He is now asking forIsaac's sacrifice. He moved quickly, not consultinganyone, and awoke very early in the morning so no onewould delay him. He had sincere intentions, so he wasconsidered to have sacrificed his son by intention.

Abraham walked for three days to find a place for theburning; the number three refers to the resurrection ofChrist. He was therefore aware during the darkness (ofhis time) of the ability to resurrect his son Isaac in ChristWho rose from the dead, so Abraham was exalted (John8:56).

Father Kyserios saw that leaving behind of the young

men (with the donkey) refers to the failure of the Jews toenter the mystery of sacrifice and the implications of thecross (1 Corinthians 23, 25).

Isaac carried the wood for the burning, just as the LordChrist carried the wood of the cross (Isaiah 9:5, 6).

They went together to where the sacrifice was to beoffered; it was Abraham's sacrifice because he freelyoffered his son, and at the same time Isaac's sacrificebecause he freely offered himself. Similarly, the sacrificeof Christ is a sacrifice where the Father freely offered HisSon (Romans 8:32), and the obedient Son sacrificedHimself in love (Galatians 2:20).

Isaac returned alive, and the Lord Christ rose from thedead.

Abraham was given a renewal of the covenant (15-19),enjoying new knowledge of God's dealings with him.

The departure of the young men with Abraham and Isaacto Beersheba, perhaps refers to the return of the Jews tothe faith by their acceptance of Christ's sacrifice whichthey could not before grasp in meaning or achievement(Romans 11).

The Death of Sarah (Genesis 23)

+ Sarah represents the body which accompanies thesoul. She accompanied Abraham in his spiritualstruggles, shared his faith, and supported him; thus shewas not a burden to him. Now Sarah died and her manhad to bury her with the hope of resurrection.

+ Sarah lived 127 years full of the fruits of the Lord, soshe became a mother to all believers (Isaiah 51:2) and aliving example for all holy women (1 Peter 3:6).

+ Abraham expressed his deep love towards his wife, andburied her, not beside her family but in the cave ofMachpelah in Canaan, the promised land. In spite of hisbelief that all the land (Canaan) would be inherited by hisdescendants, he refused to take the burial site as a freegift from another man (sons of Heth). He waited patientlyfor the fulfillment of God's promises. This great man offaith displayed graciousness in his dealings with the sonsof Heth, thus he bowed to them in gratitude.

+ We find that Abraham did not buy anything except thegrave. He bought it with silver, for he did not ask for theearth but for the burial of the body with the hope ofresurrection. In other words, he possessed only whatcould be bought by the words of God (silver is a symbolof God's Words in Psalm 12:6).

Isaac's Marriage (Genesis 24)

Abraham's oldest servant was called upon to bringRebekah as a wife for Isaac from the city of Nahor inHaran; this symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit indrawing the nations away from their evil land (idolworship) to make them a bride to the True Isaac.

+ The eldest servant putting his hand under Abraham'sthigh to swear probably refers to the oath of the Incarnatefrom his line.

+ He took with him 10 camels bearing his master's

blessings, a symbol of the Holy Spirit Who offers usdivine blessings through spiritual commandments (thenumber 10), enriching us generously and endowing uswith glory.

+ The man met Rebekah near the well in the evening,symbolic of the church being blessed by marriage throughthe waters of baptism and the Word of God throughoutthe ages.

+ He learned from Abraham the need for God'sintervention. We find him praying when he arrives at thewell, and after the decision he does not forget to thankGod Who made his mission a success (24:52).

+ Rebekah accepted the offer of eternal glory; that is theheavenly marriage: a gold nose ring symbolic of theDivine Words, the two gold bracelets symbolic of thereconciling Holy Works, the silver and gold vasessymbolic of heavenly life, and the clothes symbolic ofsanctification of the body.

+ Even though Laban and his father felt that this wasGod's will, they left the girl to decide freely.

+ Rebekah left her father and family to join her groom;similarly the church leaves everything for the sake of herChrist.

+ Isaac went out into the field to wait for his bride, andthen led her into his mother Sarah's tent; this is symbolicof the Word of God coming in the flesh into the world tolead us into his mysteries instead of the Jewishcommunity.

The Passing of Abraham (Genesis 25)

Abraham died leaving all of what the Lord had promisedhim in his son Isaac's heart, so that Isaac would carry onhis faith and beliefs. This is how we must deliver, in thespirit of love, custody of the living faith that works throughlove onto coming generations. We bestow onto themspiritual wealth through love.

After Abraham's death, Isaac dwelled by Beer Lahai Roi(25:11), that is, the well of revelation. Thus, if we pass onthe faith in the spirit of love, our children's vision will beopened so that they may live by the spirit of truerevelation to see the mysteries of the Kingdom; theirvision will be opened to the Word of God and be devotedto It.

After approximately twenty years of marriage to Isaac,Rebekah gave birth to sons: Esau who was firstbornaccording to the body, and Jacob who usurped firstbornstatus. The two began feuding even in the womb (25:22);they formed two nations (Edom and Israel) which werealways feuding. They represent the struggle between theold human and the new human who is renewed in Christ.

The older one was named Esau ("hairy" or "rough")because of the hair that covered his body, just as he wascalled Edom ("blood" or "red") because he sold hisbirthright for a plate of red lentils (25:29-34). As for theyounger one, he was named Jacob for he was holding hisbrother's heel at birth and supplanted him.

Esau fell because of his recklessness and lawlessness(Hebrews 12:16, 17). The defect was not in the lentils butin his reckless heart.

Genesis 21-27

Gods Relationship with Isaac

The narrative has already told us in Chapters 21-25 ofGod's relationship with Isaac who was the fruit of a divinepromise:

1 - Isaac the promised son, bringing happiness to hisparents Genesis 21

2 - Isaac the obedient son, the burning of God's loveGenesis 22

3 - God chooses Rebekah as a wife to comfort himGenesis 24

4 - Isaac begets Esau and Jacob Genesis 25

5 - Isaac sojourns in Gerar and searches for wellsGenesis 26

6 - Jacob usurps the blessings of his father Isaac Genesis27

Isaac Sojourns in Gerar (Genesis 26)

Isaac faced the same problem that his fatherexperienced. There was a famine in the land, so heconsulted God and left for Gerar; thus he was blessed

with a renewal of the covenant with God (26:1-6).

Isaac also bore the weakness of his father. Fearing thathe might be killed because he was her husband, Isaacclaimed that his wife was his sister, but Abimelechreprimanded him politely and ordered that no one shouldtouch either the man or his wife. The Lord sent a paganking to reproach Isaac in his weakness, and did not holdback His generous blessings to him. The Philistinesenvied him to the point that Abimelech asked him to leaveafter he made a pact with him. Even those who enviedIsaac testified that God was with him.

The Philistines filled with earth the wells that Abraham'sservants had dug in Gerar (26:18) and so Isaac dug themagain and also dug new wells. The word "Gerar" meant"walled," thus our True Isaac came to remove theseparating wall (Ephesians 2:4), uncover the old wells(that is the wells of the Law and the Prophets) which werefilled with the earth of deadly literal interpretation, and digthe heavenly and spiritual wells of the New Testament.The book reveals that the third well dug by Isaac was notdisputed, so he called it Rehoboth (open spaces) for itsymbolizes the faith in the Trinity that reveals there isroom in the Kingdom for all the world, in other words, thedivine arms welcome every serious believer.

Isaac Blesses Jacob (Genesis 27)

Jacob usurped firstborn status from his brother Esau, andnow he usurps the blessing from his brother with the aidof his mother, who intervenes in a human way to serveGod's plan; she knew that the older would serve theyounger (25:23). Esau represented the Jewish nation -firstborn in knowing God - but Jacob who symbolized the

church of the New Testament took the blessing. The latteroffered two young goats representing the coming togetherof some Jews with the other nations. Rebekah dressedJacob in Esau's clothes like the church of the NewTestament carried the promises and books of the Jews.The flight of Jacob away from Esau symbolizes thepersecution of the church.

Isaac did not rebuke them because he was probablyaware that they were justified. However, both had to bearthe fruit of their deception: Rebekah was saddened by herson's departure, and Jacob suffered repeatedly from thedeceptions of his uncle Laban and his children. He whosows deception will reap of the same seed.

Isaac smelled a refreshing aroma on Jacob's clothes.Similarly, the soul that bears the pure aroma of Christbecomes a holy spiritual paradise that pleases the Father.As for Esau, he was denied because of his owncarelessness, and he became full of anger .

Genesis 25-50

God's relationship with Jacob

Jacob received the Lord's blessing from his father to livethrough his struggles withundying hope:

1 - Jacob struggles in his mother's womb Genesis 25

2 - Jacob usurps his father's blessings Genesis 27

3 - Jacob enjoys Heaven opening Genesis 28

4 - Jacob struggles at his uncle's home Genesis 29-30

5 - God supports him against his uncle Genesis 31

6 - Jacob wrestles with the angel Genesis 32

7 - Jacob defeats Esau with love Genesis 33

8 - Shechem defiles Dinah, Jacob's daughter Genesis 34

9 - Jacob leaves for Bethel Genesis 35

10 - Jacob and his beloved son Joseph Genesis 37-50

Jacob and Heaven Opening (Genesis 28)

Jacob did not enjoy a view of Heaven opening while hewas still enjoying his mother's attention and the easy life,but rather in the midst of his anguish as he struggled toescape during sunset and while feeling endangered.

Instead of using a pillow, he rested his head on a stone(the Lord Christ) so he saw Heaven open.

Isaac represents the Father and Jacob symbolizes theLord Christ, Who was asked to leave the daughters of thearea (the Jewish community) in order to marry from adistant region (the church of the nations).

The ladder is the cross with which we can be elevated toheaven, while unbelievers descend to hell. Let us notconcern ourselves with how many steps it has, but with

climbing upwards to find our Christ extending His handsto receive us.

The ladder also symbolizes St. Mary through whom theWord of God became flesh.

In this location, Jacob recognized the awesome nature ofGod's house as the door to Heaven, so he named itBethel.

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29)

The vision evoked a fervor that propelled him towards hisuncle Laban in the land of Padan Aram, east of Canaan.When our eyes are opened to Heaven, we strive evenharder to receive the spiritual marriage.

Jacob met Rachel at the well as he conversed withshepherds of three flocks:

1 - The encounter took place after removal of thecovering stone, symbolic of Rachel (the church of theNew Testament) entering through the waters of baptism(the well) into the mysteries of union with her HeavenlyGroom. As for the three shepherds, they represent thepatriarchs, the men of the Law, and the prophets; theywere waiting for the Messiah who would remove thestone of darkness.

2 - The removal of the stone reminds us of theresurrection of the Messiah, as we are resurrected in Himas a holy bride.

3 - He kissed Rachel, raised his voice and wept; this is

the kiss of love that worked through the cross.

4 - The union was proclaimed: "Surely you are my boneand my flesh", so she took him to her father's house.

5 - He openly dwelt in her father's house, symbolic of ourunion with Him during all the days of our sojourn until Hecarries us onto His glories.

Jacob asked for Rachel (meaning "ewe") who wassanctified by the blood of the Lamb, because Leah(meaning "ox") had lost her beauty due to the weaknessof her inner vision, that is, her spiritual sickness. Jacobstruggled for years that seemed to him as if just a fewdays because of his love for Rachel (29:20). His uncledeceived him just as he had deceived his own father, butGod turned this into a blessing. Jacob's marriage to Leahand Rachel symbolizes the Lord Christ embracing a bridefrom both the Jews and the other nations. The Lord Christcame into the tribe of Judah who was born to Leah(29:35), symbolic of his Jewish line of descent.

The Struggles in Jacob's Life (Genesis 30)

Jacob struggled all his life. His struggles began in thewomb with Esau, then with Laban, and now in his familylife with the feuding between Leah and Rachel, eachwanting to have more children than the other; itssignificance:

1 - Perhaps, each one was expecting to be blessed byhaving the Savior (the Messiah) come from her line ofdescent.

2 - Leah felt that Jacob was more attached to Rachel, soshe thought that having many children would win himover to her. On the other hand, Rachel felt that she wasbarren, so she asked for children remove her shame. Thelatter represents the church of the New Testament thatwas barren and then bore Joseph (meaning "growth");she would bear unending growth and steadily increasingfruit.

Rachel erred by becoming desperate. In her despair, sherebuked her man saying "Give me children, or else I die!"She also hastened in asking her man to give her childrenfrom her maid, accepting the erroneous belief thatoffering bait (the apple of the devil), brings out ahusband's love towards his wife.

The Names of Jacob's Children and their Meanings

Mother Name Meaning Circumstancesof the naming

Leah Reuben son of asight

the Lord sawher affliction(29:32)

Leah Simeon has heard the Lord heardshe wasunloved (29:33)

Leah Levi attachedto me

her husbandwill be attachedto her because

she bore threesons (29:34)

Leah Judah praise(acknowledge)

the Lord waspraised for Hegave her foursons (29:35)

Bilhah Dan judge the Lord judgedher case andgave her a sonfrom her maid(30:6)

Bilhah Naphtali broad(wrestler)

the Lord gave a(broad) victoryby giving hermaid anotherson (30:8)

Zilpah Gad vigorous(fortune)

Leah struggledfor her manychildren (30:11)

Zilpah Asher happy(enviable)

Leah becameenviable (30:13)

Leah Issachar reward God gave memy reward [myhire] (30:18)

Leah Zebulun dwelling now myhusband willdwell with meas I gave him

six sons (30:21)

Rachel Joseph will add the Lord addedto me anotherson (30:24)

Rachel Benjamin son of theright hand

During labor hismother calledhim "Ben-Oni"("son of mysorrow")because of theseverity of thepain (35:18),but Jacobcalled him"Benjamin" ...he was the sonof pain andsorrow butwould enjoybeing on theright hand ofGod.

Thus began the descent of Jacob with the firstborn by theflesh, Reuben, who proclaims that God saw ourhumiliation so He gave us fruit, and continued to give usuntil we were blessed with Benjamin; that is to say,through pain we attain the right hand of God and becomeworthy to share in eternal glory.

After Rachel bore him Joseph, and Leah was fulfilled byher many children, Jacob asked to leave Laban for athree day journey; he was not blessed without theblessing of the resurrection (3 days). Let us also leave theworld to be in close association with the Lord Who rosefrom the dead, so that we may gain the wealth andblessing of the Lord.

The Return to Canaan (Genesis 31)

Jacob was away for a long time for he spent about 20years with his uncle; however, his heart was always inCanaan, so he had prepared his two wives and childrenfor the return. The caravan moved under Jacob'scommand (symbolic of Christ) with Rachel (the church ofthe New Testament) and Leah (the church of the OldTestament) towards Canaan (Heaven). Laban (symbolicof Satan), who liked to prevent anyone from going toheaven, was enraged; but Jacob was committed topulling Rachel and Leah away from their old father,Satan, and depart with them to the heavenly Father (tothe heavenly Canaan). Rachel and Leah then realizedhow their old father had treated them as strangers,robbed them of their rights, and sold them. Let us escapewith them under the guidance of the New Jacob!

Rachel stole her fathers household idols, symbolizing thechurch of the New Testament destroying idol worship.

Laban followed Jacob for seven days; in other words, theenemy (Satan) continues to fight us every day of ouralienation, but God defends us: "Be careful that youspeak to Jacob neither good nor bad" (31:24), for it is Hisbattle!

Laban rebukes Jacob, highlighting Jacob's honesty inserving him for twenty years, and providing us a vividexample for the true believer. The course of eventsconcludes with a covenant between them, and Labanreturns to Haran while Jacob returns to the promisedland; each went to where his heart was set.

Preparation to Meet Esau (Genesis 32)

As Jacob left for Canaan he was troubled because of hisbrother Esau, but God prepared his heart with whatLaban had said, namely that God appeared to himdeclaring that Jacob is not to be harmed, and now theencounter with God's angels so he said "This is the campof God" (32:2). They appeared as an army so that hewould be courageous and not afraid. The place wascalled "Mahanaim" meaning two camps. Jacob and hiscaravan represented one army and the angelsrepresented another unseen army.

Jacob sent his brother messengers in humility to implorehim (32:3-8), without consulting God. When he felt lostand was not sure how to proceed, he prayed to God(32:9-12) in a personal dialogue reminding God of Hispromises, kindness, and beneficence towards him. Hesaid that he had crossed the Jordan with his staff andnow had become two armies [companies] (32:10). This issymbolic of the Lord Christ who gained His bride by thestaff of the cross and His munificent love.

In humility he sent gifts to his brother to appease hisanger (32:13-23).

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, so he wrestled withhim; Jacob held on to the angel forcing the blessing

(32:24-32). Jacob said "For I have seen God face to face,and my life is preserved" (32:30). He was told "you havestruggled with God and with men, and have prevailed"(32:28). The angel of Lord appeared defeated, but Jacobwho appeared victorious pleaded to receive the blessing.This incident symbolizes the Lord Christ coming downinto our world as if in weakness and bearing our shameas if defeated, while He grants victory and blessingthrough the cross. The dislocation of Jacob's hip refers tohim sharing in the pains of the Lord Christ Who was to beincarnated in Jacob's line of descent.

The angel of God gave a new name, "Israel", to his newstruggling people.

Jacob's Encounter with Esau (Genesis 33)

In spite of God's promises to protect him, Jacob was stillafraid of his brother. He therefore divided those with himaccording to his love for them: the two maids with theirchildren, then Leah and her children, and finally Racheland Joseph. He walked in front of them bowing down infront of his brother seven times to disperse his brother'sanger. How weak is man's nature?! God, on His part,prepared Esau's heart by arousing feelings of brotherlylove and an eagerness to meet his brother, acquainthimself with Jacob's sons, and host him without the needfor the offered gifts.

Jacob was similar to the Lord Christ, leading the caravanas an honest shepherd with a spirit of sacrifice on behalfof everyone.

Jacob left for Succoth which is east of the Jordan andabout one mile south of the Jabbok river; and from there

he went to Shalem which borders the land of Shechem,the son of Hamor. The first thing he did was to build analtar (32:20), and he called it "El Elohe Israel" for hecame to be within God's embrace during the sacredoffering.

Dinah and the Killing of the People of Shechem (Genesis34)

When Dinah, Leah's daughter, went out to see thedaughters of the land, Shechem, Hamor's son, defiledher; he humiliated her and asked to take her as his wife,thinking that he could have Dinah because of his land andwealth. However, Simeon and Levi deceitfully pretendedto accept on the condition that Hamor and all the men inhis city circumcise themselves; then, they took up theirswords and killed (all the men while they were in pain),and plundered - together with their brothers - the city andtook the women and children captive. This saddenedJacob's heart.

Jacob blamed his two deceitful sons (34:30), not realizingthat they had learned the deception from him. He reapedwhat he had sown.

Dinah and Sarah were completely different. Bothrepresent "the body", but Sarah who was in the tent (18:9,10) symbolizes the body that is tempered by a wisdomwhich supports the soul and brings forth happiness(Isaac). In contrast, Dinah symbolizes the body whoseeyes are left uncontrolled - going to watch the daughtersof the land - so it loses its sanctity, ruins the tranquillity ofthe soul, wastes human energy, and causes destructionto many.

Jacob 's Departure to Bethel (Genesis 35)

Jacob lived all his days in Padan Aram dreaming of theday he would return to Bethel, where he had seen theheavenly ladder, felt the awe of the house of God, andmade a solemn vow to God. God now fulfills Jacob'swishes and calls for him ascend to Bethel (35:1-15).

1 - Jacob asked that all the foreign gods be cast away,such as the idols that Rachel had stolen, the gods thatwere with his slaves before the divine covenant, and thestatues plundered from Shechem. The house of God cannot be declared holy while the congregation is not.

2 - He asked them to change their garments, symbolic ofsanctification of the body.

3 - He hid their earrings which were probably thought tobring about good fortune and ward off the evil eye. He hidthem under the terebinth as a symbol of burying all evilthought beneath the wood of the cross.

4 - The city of "Bethel" had been called "Luz" whichsymbolized the Word of God. The house of God isfounded on His Living Word Who draws us into His divineembrace.

5 - The adjoining nations could not pursue him (35:5) forthey felt the terror of God in his life.

6 - As the caravan departed Deborah, Rebekah's nurse,died; thus Bethel unites those who struggle and thosewho repose in victory.

7 - God appeared there to give promises and strength(35:9-15).

8- Jacob consecrated the first house of God by setting apillar (a symbol of Christ), and pouring on it wine (anoffering of joy) and oil (symbolic of anointing).

Near Bethel Rachel gave birth to "Ben-Oni" ("son of mysorrow") whom Jacob called "Benjamin"; she then diedand was buried there. Why did God permitted her deathduring labor?

1 - To emphasize that birth and death go together.

2 - Rachel represents the church of the nations, givingbirth to God's children and departing to live in His heavenforever.

Reuben, the firstborn in the flesh, dared to sleep withBilhah, Rachel's maid; so he lost the blessing of thefirstborn because of this disgrace. He defiled his father'sbed (49:4).

Isaac died at the age of 180 years, old and having lived afull life (35:29).

The Descendants of Esau (Genesis 36)

After Isaac dies and his sons Esau and Jacob bury him,the Holy Bible gives us the family trees of Esau'sdescendants, princes from his line, descendants of Sier,and the kings of Edom - so that the believer, by knowingthe origin of every peoples or nation, can understand theevents that follow thereafter and span the different eras.

These peoples entered the faith when the old Israelrejected its Savior.

Genesis 37-50

God's Relationship with Joseph

Joseph and the Lord Christ

In our encounters with the forefathers (patriarchs)Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we felt that they were olderfathers who enjoyed personal and deep relationships withGod for the sake of all humanity. As we now discussJoseph, we envision a young man who symbolicallyresembles the Lord Christ in many ways:

1 - Joseph was the very beloved son of his father (37:3);the Lord Christ is the Only Beloved Son of the Father(Matthew 3:17).

2 - His father made him a tunic of many colors (37:3); theLord Christ put on His church which clung to Him like acolored garment of many gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4, 5).

3 - Joseph was hated by his brothers, and they could notspeak peaceably to him (37:4); the Lord Christ openedHis Heart in love only to be wounded in the house of hisfriends without cause (Zechariah 13:6).

4 - His dreams of glory were revealed so his brothersenvied him (37:11); in His baptism and transfiguration,Heaven revealed Christ's glory so the Jews envied Him.

5 - Joseph 's father kept the matter in mind (37:11); as forthe Lord Christ, His mother kept all these things andpondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19).

6 - His father sent him to Shechem (shoulder) to check onthe safety of his brothers and their sheep, but they methis love with hatred; the Father sent His Son to those whohad wandered away (the inhabitants of Shechem) to savehumanity, but they crucified Him.

7 - When they saw him, they conspired to censure himseverely (37:18-20); the Jews censured the Lord.

8 - Joseph found his brothers in Dothan (37:17), whichmeans "revolt"; the Lord Christ came and found the Jewsin a revolt against Him.

9 - They stripped the colored tunic from Joseph (37:23);Christ was bared on the cross.

10 - Joseph was thrown in the pit (37:24); Christdescended to Hades to save us (1 Peter 3:19).

11 - Joseph was sold for silver (37:28); Judah betrayedChrist for silver (Matthew 26:15).

12 - When they threw Joseph into the pit, they sat to eat(37:25); when the Lord was crucified, the Jews returnedto eat the old Passover.

13 - Joseph's brothers tried to deceive their father bystaining his tunic with a goat's blood to indicate that a wildbeast had killed him; Christ's church (His colored tunic)was stained by the Blessed Blood. (Note that Jacob haddeceived his father, so his children deceived him).

14 - The favorite son was sold as a slave in Egypt; theOne and Only Begotten Son came as a slave (Philippians2:7) into Egypt to save us, sharing in the bondage of theslaves to shed their disgrace.

15 - Joseph left his garment in the hand of the Egyptianwoman (39:11-38); the Lord left his garment in the tomb.

16 - Joseph was sent to prison as a result of the lust inPotiphar's wife; the Lord came down to us and sufferedbecause of our sins. There Joseph met the king's twoattendants (40); Christ was raised on the cross betweentwo thieves (Matthew 27:38). The first attendant - thehead butler - enjoyed the glory of returning to the palaceto serve wine, whereas the other servant perished; thethief on the right was worthy of the Blood (wine) andreceived paradise as a palace whereas the thief on theleft perished.

The first saw a vine with three branches that hadsprouted, and the second saw three baskets on his head.The number three represented the resurrection; thus thefirst enjoyed resurrection as a sacrament for his life, whilethe second perished for not accepting it practically, so hehad the aroma of death to death (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

On Pharaoh's birthday, the two dreams with theirinterpretations came true. It was a new birthday in whichthe new human (head butler) is blessed with life in Christ,while the old human (head baker) dies in arrogance as heput the bread in the upper basket.

17 - Joseph shaving and changing the prison clothing tomeet with Pharaoh (41:9-16) refers to Christ's entry intoHis glory after removing our shame and renewing ournature (the prison clothing).

18 - Joseph unveiled the symbols in the dreams; the LordChrist came to reveal and fulfill what was found in theLaw and the Prophets in the form of symbols and hiddenmeanings, and to lead us in our lives and establishspiritual stores of grain within us (Romans 10:4).

19 - Pharaoh felt that Joseph was the only wise man thatcould manage his affairs with sound judgment; when weencounter the Lord Jesus, we feel our need for Him totake charge of our inner life with His divine heavenlywisdom. We give him our palace (heart) to satisfy thehunger of all our people (sensitivities, thoughts, feelings,abilities, etc.).

20 - Joseph asked for observers to manage the landunder his supervision, symbolizing the sanctification ofour senses so they may be under the guidance of theHoly Spirit.

21 - He ordered the gathering of food for storage duringthe plentiful years, so that the land would not be affectedby famine (41:36); similarly, when we accept Christ'swork in us, famine can not afflict our soul, and we areable to withstand times of trouble without perishing.

22 - Joseph who was rejected by his own people, becamelike a king in Egypt. The Lord Christ who was rejected byhis own is King over our hearts. He left prison, for oursake and in our name, to liberate us from bondage; Hereceived the ring, as a sign of our filial relationship withHim, and accepted the fine garments (white linen) as asign of our righteousness in Him. The gold chainrepresents association in heavenly glory, and the royalchariot symbolizes enjoyment of heavenly life so we maybecome kings.

23 - Pharaoh called Joseph "Zaphnath-Paaneah" which

means food of life. The Lord Christ was called the Breadof Life (John 6:35); whoever eats of It is never hungryforever.

24 - Pharaoh married him to Asenath, the daughter ofPoti-Pherah who was priest of On, symbolic of the unionof Lord Christ with His bride who came from the nationsand whose father was pagan.

25 - Joseph had two sons from Asenath: Manasseh andEphraim; thus whoever associates with the Lord Christforgets (Manasseh = forgetful) life's worries and hisfather's old house, and brings forth plentiful fruit (Ephraim= fruitful) in the Lord. A passive position is not enough,which is only forgetting evil, whereas an active attitude isblessed with fruit.

26 - The arrival of Joseph's brothers into Egypt askinghim for grain (Genesis 42) represents the Jews returningat the end of the world to the church of the nations(Egypt) to meet Christ Who satiates souls.

27 - Joseph recognized his brothers (Genesis 42) butthey did not recognize him. The Lord of Glory cameknowing us by our names, but his own people could notrecognize Him; "if they knew the Lord of Glory, would nothave crucified Him."

28 - Joseph asking about his younger brother (42:20)reveals the Loving Heart of the Lord Christ Which asksthe church to be concerned about His brothers who areyounger spiritually and materially (Matthew 25:40).

29 - Joseph's advice to his brothers: "Do this and live ...and you shall not die" (42:18-20); this is the call of theLord Christ for us to enjoy the new life so death does notconquer us (1 Corinthians 15:26), and the power of His

resurrection (Romans 6:5).

30 - Joseph's three meetings with his brothers symbolizeour union with Christ in His pain, burial, and resurrection:

(a) In the first meeting, he appeared to be harsh withthem (42:7), but he turned away from them and wept(42:24), symbolic of man's inability to comprehend themystery of God's love at the moment of crucifixion andsuffering. This took place outside Joseph's house, as theLord was crucified outside the camp (Jerusalem) so let usgo to Him and bear His reproach (Hebrew 13:13).

(b) The second meeting, (43:15-34) took place inJoseph's house and symbolizes the Savior descendingfrom the tomb into Hades to meet those who had diedwith hope, and to carry them as the prize of His love toParadise (His house). Joseph went to his bed to weep,and then said "Serve the bread." As we meet Him in Hisentombment, we are washed by His Pure Blood, and aregiven His resurrected Body as bread for eternal life. Inthis encounter, Joseph had his own table, the Egyptianshad their own table, and the Hebrews also had theirs; thissymbolizes the union of the church of the nations and thechurch of the Jews with Christ at the head. Joseph seatedhis brothers according to their age so they wereastonished (43:33); for He knows our secrets and ournames (John 10:3), and He prepares for our salvationproviding a place for every one of us (John 14:2), but"one star differs from another star in glory" (1 Corinthians15:41). He gave them from his shares indicating that wewill enjoy His inheritance and sharing in glory. As forgiving Benjamin five fold, this represents sanctification ofthe five senses in the Lord.

For this happy meeting to take place in Joseph's house(the church is the house of God) they had to: wash their

feet with water (the blessings of baptism and repentance),offer food to their donkeys (sanctification of the body andits satiety through a holy life), and lastly sit at the table(enjoyment of the Eucharistic sacrifice).

(c) At the third meeting, Joseph made himself known(Genesis 45), a reference to Christ declaring Himself asthe giver of life and the conqueror of death. This tookplace after all the strangers had left, for no one can beblessed by the resurrection of the Lord except forbelievers who eagerly await the coming life. Thecrucifixion took place openly, but the resurrection wasonly perceived by the faithful.

In this meeting he said "I am Joseph" as if he was theLord Christ Who rose from the death, saying to Saul: "Iam Jesus whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:5). Just asJoseph's brothers were frightened, so Saul of Tarsus wasterrified and confused.

He reproached them kindly but firmly, leaving them somehope "But now do not therefore be grieved or angry withyourselves because you sold me here; for God sent mebefore you to preserve life" (45:5). Humanity sold Himcheaply for the price of a slave, so He was crucified togive us, His slaves, eternal life.

They were terrified because they never expected to meetJoseph; they had cast Him away to die mercilessly, butHe arose to give them life.

He called to them "Please come near to me" (45:4); forwhen we have sinned, we are far away, but throughChrist's resurrection we are absolved and drawn near asmembers of the household of God (Ephesians 2:13-19).

He told them "He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and

lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land ofEgypt" (45:8); when the Lord Christ arose, He declaredHis fatherhood to all nations, His lordship over their innerlives through love, and His rule (control) over their bodies(the land of Egypt) through His Holy Spirit.

In this meeting he gave them clothing, symbolic of thesanctification of our bodies in Christ. Joseph gaveBenjamin 300 pieces of silver, representing the words ofthe Gospel (silver) that concentrate on the cross (thenumber 300 in Greek is represented by the letter "T"),and five garments symbolizing the consecration of thefive senses. He also gave them food for the road (45:23)like the Lord gave us His Body as food to support us andkeep us in Him until we meet with Him face to face in Hisunspoken glory (1 Corinthians 2:9).

31 - When Jacob heard about Joseph his spirit wasrevived (45:27); the word "revived" in Latin came from"enlightened". It is as if, without our True Joseph, we arenot blessed with light (John 1:4) and our spirit isquenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Let us be eager, likeJacob, to conclude our lives by seeing our Living Joseph(Christ) Who rose from the dead.

32 - God promised Jacob that Joseph will put his hand onJacob's eyes (46:4), meaning that the dearest relativeclosed the eyes of the departed. This bears the followingsymbolism: the Lord Christ - our True Joseph - puts HisHands on our eyes, which are spiritually blind, so that wemay be blessed with spiritual vision to see Heaven open.

33 - The sons of Israel went to Joseph, just as the churchgoes to its Christ. They carried their father (soul), theirchildren (fruits of the spirit), their women (sanctity of thebody), their livestock (talents), and their goods (energy) -all these work together in one spirit as a holy caravan.

34 - Joseph presented five of his brothers to meet withPharaoh (Genesis 47), symbolic of the Lord Christ takingus into His glory by sanctifying our five senses.

35 - Joseph gave every house which they owned in theland of Egypt (in Goshen) according to the number of thechildren (47:12), as if he was the Lord Christ Who makesus kings so we may possess control over our bodies andexercise our power according to the fruit of the spirit(children).

36 - Jacob bowing in front of the head of his bed [staff](47:31 & Hebrews 11:21) symbolizes the church bowingto the cross of the Lord Christ.

Joseph the Son and the Slave (Genesis 37)

Review the comparison between the Lord Christ andJoseph (items 1-14).

Observe how the son became a slave in order to savethose around him (Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and Jacoband his family). Thus, the Lord descended into ourbondage to elevate us as children of God, and so that wemay enjoy the heavenly plan to enslave ourselves to gainmany others (1 Corinthians 9:19).

Potiphar means "related to Ra (god of the sun)." He wasan officer and his title had to do with his position as acaptain of the guard for Pharaoh (37:36 & 39:1, 20).

Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38)

Since Christ came into Judah's line of descent, the HolyBible has to reveal to us the generations of Judah'soffspring (38:1-5) so we can follow the genealogy of theLord.

Judah was wrong in marrying the Canaanite woman, sohis children came bearing the fruit of wickedness. WhenEr, his firstborn, died Judah asked his son Onan to marryhis brother's wife to raise up an heir to his dead brother,but Onan used an unnatural way in his marital relationsso Tamar (the widow) would not conceive; in all likelihoodchildren of Er would not have inherited from Judah.Because of his selfishness, he refused to sire children forhis dead brother, so God "killed him" (38:10).

Judah's third son, Shelah, grew up, but Judah did notgive him to Tamar as a husband to produce heirs to hisdead brother. She had to dress as a harlot in order forJudah to sleep with her (without him knowing her identity)and impregnate her, and afterwards she tricked him intogiving her his signet ring and staff. When Judah judgedthat she should be burned (38:24), she showed him hisown signet ring and staff so he confessed that "She hasbeen more righteous than I" (38:26).

Tamar had wished, like every Hebrew woman, that theSavior, would come from her line. When she did notconceive from her man Er, and Onan corrupted theirmarital relationship so that she would not conceive, andJudah refused to give her Shelah, she endangeredherself and accepted the role of a harlot to sleep with anold man (her father-in-law). She therefore enjoyed theblessing of being a grandmother to the Lord Christ; hername is mentioned in His genealogy (Matthew 1:3),whereas the names of the female Hebrew saints werenot, such as Sarah, Rachel, etc..

Tamar was a symbol of all the nations which were barrenand childless, an abandoned and despised widow withoutanyone to support or take care of her. She was notattached to the first authority, Mosaic law, but to thesecond authority, the "New Judah", meaning the LordChrist Who came from the tribe of Judah.

Tamar covered her face with a veil, in the same way asthe women who consecrated themselves to harlotry onbehalf of pagan gods such as Ashtoreth for the onlypurpose of collecting goats as offerings to the altar. Thus,the word for harlot in Hebrew derives from "qedesa",meaning "saint", or "consecrated to the gods."

Tamar sat at the entrance to Enaim [NRSV], (meaning"two springs") so she was blessed by both the Old andthe New Testaments.

Perez usurped firstborn status from Zerah in the womb(38:27-30), a reference to the church of the nationsgrasping firstborn rights from the Jewish community. TheLord Christ came in Perez's line of descent so we wouldnot depend on the righteousness of our grandfathers, andin order to break the thorn of arrogance and declare thatHe is a Savior to all nations.

Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (Genesis 39)

When Joseph was pampered in his father's house, weare not told that God blessed the household for his sake;but, when he suffered as a slave, God blessed Potiphar'shousehold for his sake (39:5). He was like a bottle ofperfume; when broken, its fragrance spreads.

Potiphar's wife did not love Joseph but wanted him onlyto satisfy her desires. Even after she caused hisimprisonment, he must have truly loved her because hedid not expose her or seek revenge, in spite of the highposition he had attained. When he reproved her, hespoke with humility to steer her away from evil.

Joseph left her his garment, which was all he hadacquired from her house, in order to courageously fleefrom evil and follow his God even naked (Matthew 24:17,18). The woman could only grasp his garment; similarly,the tomb could not hold the Lord, for only His garmentremained.

Joseph excelled in the practice of love:

1 - He offered his love freely to his brothers who hadenvied him, and devotedly went out to help them(Genesis 37).

2 - He loved his colleagues and superiors in his work, andthe Lord blessed Potiphar's house (39:5).

3 - He loved the criminals and found favor in the sight ofthe keeper of the prison (39:21).

He went from the practice of love to owning the land(Genesis 41) and handing out love to everyone. That ishow practical love (pain in love) became the road to glory.

Joseph in Prison (Genesis 40)

In prison, Joseph was as if he was still in his home,serving everyone like a member of his family. For a

discussion of the servants, review the previouscomparison between Joseph and the Lord Christ (item16). They also represent the wise and the foolish virgins(Matthew 25:1-13).

Joseph Glorified (Genesis 41)

Joseph asked the chief butler to remember to tellPharaoh about him, without any reference to Potiphar'swife. He forgot his unique human power until God spoketo Pharaoh through his two dreams (the cows and theheads of grain).

If the Nile symbolizes the waters of baptism throughwhich the Lord propels His wealthy church (the sevencows, fine looking and fat), then the enemy of good(Satan) is like a sea monster that follows her wishing tokill her (the seven cows, ugly and gaunt). Likewise forheads of grain, for the false christ blows from the east likea hot wind that burns holy plants, attacking Christ'schurch in order to destroy it until the end of time (Matthew24:22-25).

As for the meeting between Joseph with Pharaoh, reviewthe comparison between the Lord Christ and Joseph(items 17-25).

Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt (Genesis 42)

When Joseph's brothers deprived themselves of hiscompany by selling him, all of Canaan lost its blessingand entered into a famine. Egypt was blessed because of

Joseph, and became the source of sustenance for thehungry; thus, his brothers had to go into Egypt andencountered him.

Jacob asked his sons to go into Egypt to buy wheat(42:1-2). The Bible here deliberately uses the name"Jacob" and not "Israel", even though he had alreadyreceived the divine promise and given the name Israel. Inall likelihood, when the family was deprived of Joseph itlost its character as "Israel", God's people. He askedthem to "go down to" Egypt, or to descend from theirarrogance in order to be blessed by the church whosemembers came from the (other) nations. He said "Why doyou look at one another?!" They should instead look tothe source of sustenance. Those who went downnumbered ten; they could not meet Joseph with an openheart (the number ten represents the Law), until theybrought Benjamin (symbolic of attachment to the Word ofthe Bible Who grants the privilege to be at God's RightHand).

Joseph's brothers wronged both God and Joseph, and asthe years passed by they forgot their sin and thought thatall their deeds would be overlooked. When the plentifulyears came, they were happy with the worldly blessings.God's love allowed them to forget their sin, and then Hepermitted seven dry years of famine and caused them tobe thrown into prison until they repented. God used everymeans for their salvation: kindness as well as austerity,and abundant worldly blessings as well as famine.

In spite of his yearning for them (42:24), Joseph wasunsympathetic to them until they brought him his brotherBenjamin. He ordered that they be imprisoned for threedays so they might remember the innocent blood thatthey had shed unjustly; he then reassured them: "for Ifear God" (42:18-20).

Simeon being taken and bound before them means thatthey had lost their hearing (Simeon = hearing) to thevoice of God and His will, while Reuben (son of a sight)rebuking them represents insightful, spiritual visionpropelling the soul to repentance.

They returned to Canaan without Simeon, recountingwhat had happened and referring to Joseph as "the lordof the land", confirming what Joseph had seen in hisdreams and what they could not bear to hear before.

The Second Meeting with Joseph (Genesis 43)

Judah had to offer himself to his father as surety for thereturn of Benjamin, in order for the father to allow them totake Benjamin down to Egypt. The Lord Christ, who camethrough Judah's tribe, similarly offered Himself to God assurety for the redemption of his younger brothers.

Joseph had said: "You shall not see my face unless yourbrother is with you" (43:3). Its was as if our Father tellingus that we will not see His face unless we appear in frontof Him in Jesus Christ [our eldest brother] (Ephesians1:4).

Jacob's children returned to Joseph carrying giftsrepresenting the fruits of the soul and the silver, whichthey found in their sacs, symbolizing the Words of God(Psalm 12:6) and meaning the enjoyment ofunderstanding the symbols, prophecies, andcommandments which uncover the Messiah and HisWork.

Review the discussion concerning this meeting in the

comparison between the Lord Christ and Joseph (item30b).

May we grieve and weep like Joseph for those who harmus without having malice towards them.

Joseph's Silver Cup (Genesis 44)

Joseph ordered that the cup be placed in Benjamin'ssack. This was perhaps to make Benjamin come back forhe could not bear his absence, and possibly to test hisbrothers to see if they would leave Benjamin behind orwould hold on to him.

If the cup represents the pains of the Lord Christ, thenwhoever wants to be at the right hand of God (aBenjamin) should be willing to accept suffering in his orher life.

Judah offered himself for the redemption of his brotherBenjamin.

Joseph Declares Himself (Genesis 45)

Review the discussion on the third meeting in thecomparison between the Lord Christ and Joseph (item30c).

Joseph excelled in not viewing the past through feeblehuman vision but with insightful, spiritual vision thatdirected him into action: "Hasten and go up to my father..." (45:9), and then he asked them to tell his father "come

down to me, do not tarry." It was not a time for talk but forwork to rescue from famine and death, and to enjoy theglory (45:13).

He fulfilled for them a page from the past, giving themmany gifts, blessings, and food, and advised them: "Seethat you do not become troubled along the way" (45:24).It is not the time to blame one another, but to hasten inreturning.

Jacob did not become preoccupied with the carts and theblessings that came in them, but instead his soul wasrevived when he heard about Joseph: "I will go and seehim before I die" (45:28). This is how we should beabsorbed in our Lord Jesus, being eager to go to seeHim, and not be preoccupied with His gifts to us.

Jacob Comes Down to Egypt (Genesis 46)

When Jacob consulted the Lord, the answer was "Do notfear to go down to Egypt; for I will make of you a greatnation there. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I willalso surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put hishand on your eyes" (46:3, 4).

This was the last time that God appeared to Jacob. Hedid not appear to anyone else until he chose Moses toraise up His people for the exodus from Egypt. Here thesummons to go down is like going into a spiritual battle,through which the believer becomes a great nation as hegrows in his sufferings with the Lord; the Lord will declareHis support during the battle, and the believer will emergevictorious.

Jacob was given these promises in Beersheba after heoffered sacrifices to the Lord; in other words, through thewaters of baptism (the well), we find worthiness for theredeeming sacrifice of Christ.

Jacob (symbolic of the church) sent his son Judah(symbolic of the Lord Christ who came into his tribe) toJoseph to point out the way to Goshen. Thus, the churchcannot be without her Judah Who guides her in a foreignland, because He Himself is the way (John 14:6).

When Israel, who represents the church, met Joseph,who represents the Lord Christ, Israel fell on his neck,kissed him, and wept saying: "Now let me die, since Ihave seen your face, because you are still alive" (46:30).The church similarly breaks down in love in front of herChrist Who rose from dead, longing for death in order tolive with Him.

Joseph chose for his father and brothers the land ofGoshen for four reasons: (1) it was closest to Canaan(Northeast Egypt) so they would long for the return, (2) toprevent conflicts with the Egyptians who despisedshepherds, (3) to keep them from being affected byEgyptian idol worship as much as possible, and (4)because Goshen means "to be near" or "related", so hewanted their hearts to be near God during their physicalalienation.

Jacob Meets Pharaoh (Genesis 47)

Joseph's strength of character was highlighted by the factthat he was not ashamed of his family being shepherds, adisgraceful profession in the eyes of the Egyptians. Onthe contrary, he proudly went out in his chariot to meet

them, and asked them to be honest with Pharaoh.

His brothers spoke to Pharaoh as sojourners (47:4); thisis the true feeling of every believer, that he is a stranger(in this world). This is why Jacob told Pharaoh "The daysof the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirtyyears; few and evil have been the days of the years of mylife" (47:9). He spent all his life as a sojourner sufferingevery day. When famine came and persisted, theEgyptians came to Joseph volunteering to be Pharaoh'sservants (47:20) in return for some wheat; they representthe wicked who voluntarily ask to be servants to Satan inreturn for a piece of bread or satisfaction of bodilydesires. As for the Hebrews, they fell into bondage as aresult of ruthlessness (Exodus 1:13); the enemy (Satan)also wants to enslave believers by his ruthlessness anddeception.

Jacob asked Joseph to swear (47:29-31) after Joseph puthis hand under Jacob's thigh, meaning by Christ whowould come through his descendants, that he would beburied in his father's tomb, the cave of Machpelah inCanaan; as a result, he would bind the hearts of hischildren to the promised land. Israel bowed himself on thehead of the bed (47:31) or "the head of his staff"(Septuagint); by this, he represents the church in aforeign land, bowing in front of Christ's cross and beingjoyful because He promised to take her to the heavenlyCanaan.

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48)

As his last hours neared, those for which Israel hadendured troubles throughout all his life, Joseph hastenedto bring his two sons so that his father could bless them.

Jacob blessed the younger one with his right hand andthe older one with his left hand, deviating from tradition.He then declared the following:

1 - God appeared to him in Luz (Bethel) to confirm thatthe blessing he gives is not from himself but from theLord. The church does not offer anything of her own, butonly through the work of the Spirit of God in her and withthe blessing of her Groom Who dwells in her.

2 - He declared that both Ephraim and Manassehbelonged to him, and so they became two tribes; thus,Joseph effectively received two shares of what his eachof brothers were given. Each one of his brothers becameonly one tribe.

3 - He asked Joseph not to forget his mother Rachel whowas buried in Bethlehem (48:7), so that he would tieJoseph's heart to Canaan and neither his Egyptian wife,his wealth, his authority, nor his children would make himforget the promised land.

4 - By putting his hands in an unusual way (the right onthe younger while the left on the older), they formed across during the blessing, so that the two sons would beblessed by the sacrifice of the cross. Favoring theyounger over the older symbolizes us enjoying firstbornrights through the Second Adam not the first Adam, thefirstborn of the Spirit not of the flesh. We mentioned thatManasseh represents the negative side (forgetting love ofthe world) and Ephraim, meaning "plentiful fruit"represents the positive side of spiritual life. The firstrepresents the era of the Law, while the secondrepresents the era of Grace, meaning that together theyrepresent the church of both eras.

Jacob Blesses His Sons (Genesis 49)

With the ending of Jacob's life on earth, the era of thepatriarchs came to a close. They were individuals whocarried the church in their offspring, and with the end oftheir era began another with the church as tribes. Thelatter was to continue until the coming of the Messiah(from the tribe of Judah) to proclaim salvation for allnations.

Jacob spent 17 years in Egypt in silence and tranquillity,looking forward to his sons becoming tribes and formingthe church of the Old Testament whose purpose was toprepare for the New Testament. He therefore spokeprophetically about every tribe:

1 - Reuben (49:3, 4): Jacob saw in him a person who wasconfident in being firstborn in the flesh, but in hisarrogance defiled his father's bed (35:22); consequently,Judah spiritually took from him his firstborn rights.Reuben was defeated by bodily desire like water thatboils and then cools again; he lost his precedence. Herepresents the Jews who lost their firstborn rights byrefusing to believe in Christ; they attacked the Father'sbed, meaning His bride, the church, to undermine her.

2 - Simeon and Levi (49:5-7): From the beginning, thescribes conspired with the Levites to kill the Lord Christ.The two brothers in their union did not honor God butkilled and hamstrung the Savior, Who came as a manoffering Himself in sacrifice (the ox) for their redemption.Literally, they quietly conspired to kill every male inShechem's clan (Genesis 34) by deception and troubledtheir father.

3 - Judah (49:8-12): He received the lion's share of the

blessings, for Jacob saw in him the Lord Christ cominginto his tribe. Thus it is Christ Who is deserving of praiseand worship; with the cross, He would put His hands onthe neck of his enemy (the devil) to destroy him, declaringHis Kingdom, and believers would bow down before Him.He was the lion who lay on the cross, sleeping of His ownfreewill and bearing the power of resurrection. ThusJacob said "who shall rouse him?!"

Judah's tribe would be the tribe of the kings (49:10) untilShiloh (the Giver of Peace) comes and brings togetherpeoples from all nations into His Kingdom.

He would call all the nations and the Jews (symbolized bythe donkey and the colt, according to St. Hippolytus) toHis vine, and purify His church with His Blood: "Hewashed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the bloodof grapes" (49:11).

His eyes shine by the Word of truth (49:12) and His teethare whiter than milk for from His mouth comes a food thatsustains children (milk) and adults.

4 - Zebulun (49:13): His tribe dwelt west of the JordanRiver and the Sea of Galilee, representing the union ofIsrael with the nations (many waters), or a call for othernations to enjoy Israel's spiritual promises.

5 - Issachar (49:14, 15): His tribe engaged in farming notpolitics, and was subjected to paying tribute. He waslikened to the donkey who carries the burdens of others,bowing his shoulder in his love for the tired and enslavinghimself to free others. When Saul of Tarsus experiencedthe world as an excursion (rich), he bowed his shouldersto serve humanity with sacrifice and love (2 Corinthians12:15, 16), enslaving himself to gain many others (1Corinthians 9:19).

6 - Dan (49:16-18): He was Jacob's first son from a maid(30:1-6). His descendants were known for shrewdness(Deuteronomy 33:22); his name meant "to judge." St.Irenaeus believed that the antichrist would come fromDan's descendants. Thus Judah represents Christ, whileDan represents the antichrist.

7 - Gad (49:19): Dad's tribe, together with thedescendants of Reuben and Manasseh, chose the landeast of the Jordan (Numbers 32), so they were mostsusceptible to being killed (2 Kings 10:32-33) and knownfor their might in battle (1 Chronicles 12:8-14),representing souls who struggle.

8 - Asher (49:20: Jacob prophesied that he would receivemany blessings, and Moses prophesied that he would diphis foot in oil (Deuteronomy 33:24). He actually wasblessed with fertile land, rich in the olive trees thatproduced the oil for anointing kings - symbolic of theinundation of blessings into the lives of those whostruggle spiritually.

9 - Naphtali (49:21): He was likened to a female deer whorushes into the open wilderness without hindrance,moving swiftly and lightly wherever she is. This freedomwas not an opportunity for corruption and evil, but toestablish good relations with the other tribes(Deuteronomy 33:23).

10 - Joseph (49:22-34): He was twice called a branch of atree that was fruitful, for the number two symbolizes thelove that makes two become one. With love, ourbranches grow towards heaven over every wall or barrier,meeting every resistance and trepidation with an openheart. His father called for him to receive every worldlyand eternal blessing. Jacob wanted Joseph to receiveeven more than what he himself. had: spiritual blessings

(blessings of heaven), bodily blessings (blessings of thedeep beneath), and every power and talent (breasts andwomb); thus, he would be worthy in the eyes of the Lordto intercede for his brothers.

11 - Benjamin (49:27): He was known for bravery (Judges20:12-16) and likened to a "ravenous wolf", a probablereference to Saul, the Benjaminite king who wanted to killking David. This is also a representation of Saul of Tarsuswho was driven in the beginning of his life to hunt downthe church like prey, but he became a believer and herhumble servant, offering himself as nourishment (spiritualfood, Septuagint) to her by submitting to the work ofAnanias (Acts 9:17).

The Burial of Jacob (Genesis 50)

Jacob died a stranger in Egypt after having asked to beburied in his fathers' grave in Canaan. It was as if herealized that the seed of God's people had taken root inEgypt and would grow and bloom, but that the heart ofthe people must be tied to the promised land. His concernabout burial affirmed his respect for the body, which willrise to share with the soul the eternal inheritance. Hespecifically asked to be buried with his fathers to affirmthe need for each generation to commit itself to acceptingthe faith handed down to the saints, so that all may live asone spirit.

The procession went up from Egypt into Canaan,ascending not descending to symbolize our journeytowards heaven. The burial ritual was completed in threesteps:

1 - The procession moved as "a very great gathering

(company, KJV)" (50:9) with Joseph at the lead. This isthe procession of the church with Christ at the head,moving towards the heavenly Canaan (2 Corinthians2:14). It brought together Pharaoh's servants, the eldersof his house, and the households of Joseph, his brothersand their father. The procession of the universal churchbrings together men of faith from both the nations and theJews, and from servants and noblemen; they are a verygreat company that knows neither laxity norself-indulgence but struggles spiritually against thepowers of evil (Ephesians 6).

2 - When crossing the Jordan, in "the threshing floor ofAtad", the Canaanites remarked "it is a grievousmourning" (50:11, 12); thus, baptism is associated withtears of repentance every day of our sojourn (themourning continued for seven days).

3 - We are not told of tears or weeping in Canaan, forGod wipes every ear from their eyes (Revelation 21:4).Jacob was placed in Abraham's cave so he could rest inhis father's embrace.

Joseph succeeded and became great, not by attaining hisposition as the second after Pharaoh, but because of hislarge heart that was full of love. He did not reciprocateevil with evil, but fulfilled the evangelical commandment oflove in telling his brothers "you meant evil against me; butGod meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it isthis day, to save many people alive" (50:20). With hislove, Joseph understood the mysteries of God and Hisplan for salvation which turns evil into good.

Perhaps the return of his repentant brothers to himrepresents the Jews returning to believe in Christ at theend of time.

Finally, before his death, Joseph prophesied that theywould leave Egypt to go to the promised land (50:24), andasked them to carry up his bones with them. The latterrepresents his desire to be with his people, if only inbones, when they leave the land of bondage.

Just as the book of Genesis began with Creation, Godbringing forth life out of nothing, it ends with the death,the death of Joseph and his burial in a box in Egypt. Inother words, man entered the shroud (eras) ofembalming, mummification, pyramid building, the arts,and civilizations - all things that cannot give him back lifeafter his soul was corrupted.

Chapter 8

The Travels of Abraham and Important Events

1 - From Ur of Chaldeans (his call) to Haran (11:31): hisfather dies.

2 - From Haran to Shechem (12:1-6): God appears; hebuilds an altar to God.

3 - Shechem to Bethel (12:8).

4 - From Bethel to Egypt (12:9-11): he denies that Sarahwas his wife.

5 - From Egypt to Bethel (13:1-4).

6 - To Haran then to Damascus (14): he saves Lot fromslavery.

7 - To Hebron (14-18): Melchizedek; Ishmael is born; hepleads for Sodom.

8 - To Gerar (20-21): Isaac is born.

9 - To Beersheba (21:27-34): he hastens for offeringIsaac as a sacrifice.

10 - To Moriah Mountain (22:1-14): he offers Isaac.

11 - To Beersheba (22:19).

12 - To Hebron (25:8-10): he dies and is buried.

Chapter 9

Questions for Personal and GroupStudies

1 - Why did the Holy Bible begin with Creation? Comparewhat is described in the Bible and what modern sciencetells us. What is the significance of the chapters on theorigin of the ancient peoples? What is meant by the word"day" in the Creation? (Genesis 1).

2 - How did Christ come as another Adam, as a Savior tohim and his descendants, and as a solution to theirproblems? (Genesis 4 & Romans 5).

3 - Abel's blood cried out like a loud prayer. Compare itwith the silent prayer of Hannah. (Genesis 4 & 1 Samuel2).

4 - Compare the ark and the church of the NewTestament. (Genesis 6-9 & 1 Peter 3:20).

5 - With the flood, humanity began anew. What are themeanings of renewal in baptism and perpetual dailyrenewal?

6 - In Babel, division and confusion took place (Genesis11). Was this corrected by the Pentecost (Acts 2)? Doesthis contradict human efforts like church councils,scientific meetings, and the United Nations?

7 - What are the views of Christianity towards worldly

possessions and family ties? (Genesis 12).

8 - Is Lot to be blamed for leaving Abraham?

9 - What does it mean that the priesthood of Christ waswith the rank of Melchizedek? (Genesis 14 & Psalms110:4 & Hebrews 5).

10 - What were God's promises to Abraham that arefulfilled in us as his children? (Genesis 15).

11 - How does baptism assure spiritual circumcision?(Genesis 17 & Galatians 6).

12 - What does the conversation between God and hisfriend Abraham reveal? (Genesis 18 & Isaiah 41:8 & John15:15).

13 - Lots heart was attached to having the biggest share.How did this affect his personal and family life, and thecommunity (Ammon and Moab)? (Genesis 19).

14 - Compare between the burning of Isaac and thecrucifixion of Christ? (Genesis 22 & Fraction of MaundyThursday).

15 - How did Abraham, the father of the fathers, highlighthis concern for family life for himself and his descendantsafterwards (Genesis 23 & 24).

16 - What is meaning of the wells dug by Isaac? (Genesis26).

17 - Jacob's life represents a struggle that was supportedby God's blessings. How? (Genesis 25-33).

18 - The deception of Isaac resulted in deception. Explain.

19 - Why did God permit the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac,and Jacob, to have more than one wife?

20 - Leah and Rachel represent the churches of the Oldand New Testaments. Explain.

21 - Dinah represents the unholy soul and the body whichis spiritually corrupt. What was the result? (Genesis 34).

22 - Jacob continually longed to return back to Bethel.Why? (Genesis 28 & 35).

23 - Cite examples of how Joseph symbolized the LordChrist? (Genesis 37-50).

24 - Joseph did not get his strength of character andsuccess from his circumstances, but rather from his innerdepths. Explain (Genesis 38).

25 - How did Tamar represent the church of all thenations? (Genesis 38).

26 - What is the difference between desires and love?(Genesis 39)

27 - How does the believer view prisoners? (Genesis 40& Hebrew 13:3).

28.- Did glory ruin Joseph's big heart? (Genesis 42-45).

29 - What was the wisdom in Jacob coming down into theland of Egypt? (Genesis 46).

30 - Explain the blessings which Jacob prophesied for his

children. (Genesis 48-49).

31 - Can we practice the faith of Abraham, the strugglesof Jacob, the obedience of Isaac, and Joseph's love?

32 - Write an essay about human and family relations, inview of the faithful life of the early patriarchs.

33 - Why were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob calledpatriarchs? What was the purpose of portraying their livesin the Holy Bible?